Businesses are being encouraged to apply for government grants to support them through the pandemic.

With a selection of grants on offer, Allerdale Borough Council is urging all business owners to apply for ones they are eligible for.

There is financial support available for particular restriction periods since 5 November 2020, and some of the grants are only available for specific business sectors – such as the £1000 payment to support wet-led pubs in the area.

The council recently opened up applications for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (open) fund which is designed to help those in the hospitality, accommodation and leisure sectors affected by the restrictions imposed under Tier 2 which were introduced during the period of 2-30 December.

The council is seeking to pay as many of the grants as possible using the information it already has on the eligible businesses from previous grant applications.

Businesses may therefore be asked to just simply reconfirm some details. If information, such as bank details, has changed since the previous grants were paid then businesses are encouraged to contact the council.

The council has this week written by email to all businesses that successfully applied for a grant under the Local Restrictions Support Grant, which covered the period of the previous national lockdown last November.

The email asks them to confirm certain details so that an automatic payment can be made for the grants available to businesses affected by the Tier 4 restrictions as well as the current national lockdown.

All previous grant recipients (who applied before 18 January 2021) are encouraged to check their emails and reply as soon as possible.

Any eligible business that has not already applied for support under the Local Restrictions Support Grant scheme should apply using the online form.

To find out more, visit the council's website at www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/coronavirus/coronavirus-business-grants-claims.