Different government grants were made available during the coronavirus pandemic in order to:
- provide support for different business sectors
- provide cover during different time periods
- respond to the varied local and national restrictions which have been in place
You may have been eligible for more than one of the available grants which have been made available during the course of the pandemic.
We'll act swiftly to distribute grants. We'll provide updates through local media, our partners, and our Business Updates as soon as possible; register to receive the latest business information by email.
Closed COVID-19 business grants
All COVID-19 business grant schemes have now been closed by the government, strictly no further payments can be made from these grant schemes.
- Additional Restrictions Grant
- Business Growth Voucher Scheme
- Christmas support payment for Wet-led pubs
- Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed Businesses)
- Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open Businesses)
- Lockdown Restrictions Grant
- Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant
- Restart Grant
- Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant
- Sector Support Grant
- Small Business Grant Fund
If you made an application under any of these schemes and you're still awaiting a decision, or if you disagree with a decision, you should contact the Business Rates Team.
You can appeal within 14 days of the date on your decision notice, email: business.rates@york.gov.uk.
Additional Restrictions Grant
The Additional Restrictions Grant aims to support businesses severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions when most needed. This third round of Additional Restrictions Grant funding aims to support businesses severely impacted by the rise of the Omicron variant and applies from December 2021 only. It is not retrospective.
Businesses must be trading to be eligible to receive funding under this scheme.
The Additional Restrictions Grant is for businesses severely impacted by the rise of the Omicron variant but not eligible for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG).
Please note that applications closed on Friday 11 March 2022. We will not be reopening the scheme for new applications.
Business Growth Voucher Scheme
The Business Growth Voucher Scheme provided eligible York-based businesses with up to £1,000 of funding, to help buy services and expertise from other local suppliers.
This grant scheme was paused for applications on 23 December 2021 before being formally closed on 6 January 2022.
The scheme supported 355 York businesses to complete 434 projects with local suppliers.
Back to Closed COVID-19 business grants
Christmas Support Payment for Wet-Led Pubs
Public houses may have been entitled to this grant on top of the other available local restrictions support grants.
This grant scheme closed for applications on 28 February 2021.
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Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed Businesses)
The Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed Businesses) was for businesses that had been mandated to close by law from 2 December 2020.
This grant scheme closed for applications on 21 March 2021.
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Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open Businesses)
The Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open Businesses) grant closed for applications on 21 March 2021.
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Lockdown Restrictions Grant
The Lockdown Restriction Grant was for businesses forced to close by law under the period of national lockdown.
The Lockdown Restriction Grant related to the periods of:
- 5 November to 2 December 2020
- 5 January 2021 to 15 February 2021
- 16 February 2021 to 31 March 2021
This grant was also known as 'Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) - Addendum (Lockdown)'.
This grant scheme closed for applications on 31 May 2021.
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Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant
The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG) was a one-off grant for businesses in the hospitality, leisure and accomodation sectors, announced in December 2021 in response to the effects of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. The OHLG applied from 21 December 2021 only and was not retrospective.
This application closed on Friday 18 March 2022. We will not be reopening the scheme for new applications.
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Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage: Emergency Resource Support
This fund aims to provide emergency funding awards to culturally significant organisations that were financially sustainable before COVID-19 but are now at imminent risk of failure and have exhausted all other options for increasing their resilience.
Find information on eligibility and how to apply for this grant on the Heritage Fund website.
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Restart Grant
Restart Grants were a further grant scheme which provided grants to top up payments from previous schemes.
The scheme provided grants to:
- non-essential retail businesses
- qualifying hospitality and leisure properties
This grant scheme closed for applications on 30 June 2021.
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Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant
The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant fund was part of the York Small Business Grant Fund application process.
This grant scheme closed for applications on 28 August 2020.
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Sector Support Grant
The Sector Support Grant was available for several periods.
This grant scheme closed for applications on 21 March 2021.
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Small Business Grant Fund
The Small Business Grant Fund was part of the York Small Business Grant Fund application process.
This grant scheme closed for applications on 28 August 2020.
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