THURROCK Council has alerted local businesses that they can still apply for grant funding of up to £2,500 if the Covid pandemic and safeguarding restrictions have impacted on operations - and they can be backdated.

The council says the purpose of the government-funded Business Adaptation Grant, which is aimed at supporting small to medium businesses that have been hit by the cost of implementing social distancing and safety measures, is to help local businesses and support Thurrock's economic recovery.

Cabinet member for finance Cllr Shane Hebb said: "This grant has been launched to support Thurrock businesses that have adapted to keep their customers and employees safe. It offers a new lifeline as we continue to follow the government's roadmap out of lockdown.

"The council is here to help and we know what an important role small to medium businesses play in our local economy and we want to make sure that they get the support they need to enable Thurrock's economic recovery."

The discretionary grant is operating on a first come first served basis and retrospective applications can be made for the period from October 2020 onward.

The grant scheme is funded by the Department of Health & Social Care's Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) to enable a comprehensive response to public health risks of transmission. Supporting adaptations to premises helps ensure that businesses are operating safely with the risk of an outbreak greatly reduced.

Details about the grant scheme and how to apply can be found here.