THE owners of Wirral businesses that have been severely impacted by the Omicron variant can now apply for a support grant.

The 'Liverpool City Region Additional Restrictions Grant' will be allocated by the council, to businesses in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors and those in connected supply chains who are not eligible for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant.

Wirral's allocation is £403,380.

It is expected there will be large demand for this grant, so businesses are urged to apply as soon as possible as the grant will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.

Home-based businesses could claim £1,000 with businesses in commercial property being eligible for up £3,000.

Businesses eligible for the grant are:

  • Those in the supply chains of the hospitality and leisure sectors Accommodation (not Airbnb)
  • Breweries Caterers and catering suppliers/equipment
  • English language schools
  • Entertainment industries e.g self-employed musicians, promoters, artist agents/management companies
  • Events industries e.g. marquee, sound and lighting, security company, event entertainment agency, event planner/management, event photographer, event/hospitality staffing agency
  • Freelance and mobile businesses, e.g caterers, events, hair, beauty
  • Gyms
  • Hospitality businesses
  • Leisure businesses
  • Nightclubs 
  • Personal care
  • The travel and tourism sector e.g group travel, travel agents and tour operators/facilitators, coach operators, limousine hire
  • Theatres
  • Wedding-related businesses
  • Wholesalers

Applications for the grant close at 5pm on Friday, February 4.

The grant will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

In a joint statement from Liverpool City Region's metro mayor Steve Rotheram and the leaders of the authority's six councils, including Wirral leader Cllr Janette Williamson, said: "Throughout the past 18 months, we have worked together to project our region from the biggest challenge it has faced since the war.

"That collaboration, creativity and hard work resulted in millions of pounds of support that helped sustain thousands of businesses in all parts of our region through the worst of the pandemic.

"This latest funding means we will have distributed around £54m was to more than 4,000 businesses, saving many more thousands of jobs and livelihoods in the process. We start our recovery from a much stronger position as a result."

For details on how to apply, go to https://www.wirral.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/coronavirus-updates/financial-aid-businesses/liverpool-city-region-additional