Surbiton businesses which want to apply for a share of grant funding from Kingston Council need to get their skates on!

The deadline for the first tranche of grants available for small and micro businesses in the borough is THIS FRIDAY!

With the deadline looming, the council has issued a final reminder that it has around £1.5million in its coffers from the government’s Discretionary Grant Fund.

The cash is also available to some charities which fell outside the scope of previous business grant schemes.

The council acknowledges that many businesses are suffering as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and recognises that this will not solve the misery so many shops, companies and start-ups are feeling… but it will go some way to help in the short term.

“While this will not be enough to support every business that needs it, the council’s aim is to help as many as possible with meaningful grants,” a spokeswoman told The Good Life, directing potential applicants to the council website (www.kingston.gov.uk) for more detail.

The government has made an initial priority of four sectors:

• Businesses in shared workspaces without their own business rates assessment
• Regular market traders
• Bed and breakfasts
• Some charities

Kingston Council has developed the local grant distribution scheme in consultation with Kingston Chamber of Commerce and Kingston First BID – the business promotion district which supports the town centre in Kingston.

Grant applications are being welcomed from businesses – especially small operations – in Surbiton, Tolworth and Berrylands.

Most grants will be of up to £5,000, or up to £2,500 depending on the category.

The deadline for the initial round of applications is this Friday, June 19, and it is anticipated that payments will be made from the end of this month.

To apply, or to get more details, click HERE.