A new applications window for an £8.1m Liverpool city region recovery fund for small businesses opens on Monday morning. Tony McDonough reports

Businesses across Liverpool city region have been given more time to apply for grants from an £8.1m fund to support the recovery of small firms hit by the pandemic.

When the city region – Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens and Halton – was put into Tier 3 restrictions in October 2020, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram secured £44m from the Government’s Additional Restrictions Grant scheme.

That was allocated to more than 4,000 business. The extra £8.1m – known as the Trading On Scheme – will be allocated to the city region’s six local authorities, proportionate to population. Liverpool will get the biggest slice, totalling more than £2.5m.

Monday, October 25, was the original deadline for applications but city region leaders have now agreed to an extension. The new window for applications opens at 10am on Monday, November 29, and closes at 5pm on Friday, December 10. Businesses that have already applied are being appraised and do not need to reapply.

In a joint statement about the Trading On Scheme, MrRotheram and the six local authority leaders, said: “Throughout the past 18 months, we have worked together to protect 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.

“More than £44m was distributed 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.

“We launched this additional £8.1m of funding for SMEs, that make up a massive chunk of the local economy, and are extending the deadline for applications so it can benefit as many local businesses as possible.”

For more information on the individual schemes, including eligibility and how to apply, businesses should visit their local council website. Local authority allocation (based on head of population):