SMALL and medium-sized businesses have until 31 December to apply for an ECC Business Adaptation Grant.

With the Business Adaptation Grant scheme due to end on 31 December 2021, Essex County Council is urging any small and medium-sized businesses that have yet to bid for funding to apply. Businesses can receive up to £5,000 to adapt how they operate and help to reduce the risk of Covid-19 spreading.

Essex County Council’s business grants have proved highly successful, with over £10m of the allocated £14.4m funds being awarded to over 4,000 businesses to date.

SMEs are encouraged to apply through their city, district or borough council, before the funding runs out.

In the run up to Christmas, more businesses, particularly those requiring additional support in the crucial hospitality sector can apply for funding, to invest in seating, shelter, and lighting, to enable outdoor trade.

Ella Martin, co-owner of the coffee shop Table in Earls Colne, received the Business Adaptation Grant. She commented: “We used the grant to buy tables and chairs for outdoor seating, a protection screen for the counter area and a bespoke Perspex screen for our main doorway, which has a takeaway hatch.”

Other businesses have used the grant to:

Install signage and sanitation equipment
Promote outdoor dining, including tables and chairs
Set up contactless payments
Enable home working
Increase an online presence
Cllr Lesley Wagland, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Renewal, Infrastructure and Planning, said: “We are so pleased that so many businesses have benefited from this grant programme, with many reporting that the funding has helped them to safeguard and create new jobs.

“I would encourage any small and medium-sized businesses, particularly those that have not applied for the scheme previously to find out more and make the most of the funding on offer.”

Businesses that have previously been awarded a grant from ECC’s Business Adaptation Grant scheme can apply again, provided they have not received a grant within the last two months.