£1,500 Additional Restrictions Grant for Braintree taxi drivers opens

Taxi drivers licensed with Braintree District Council will be able to apply for a £1,500 Additional Restrictions Grant from today (7 February), as the council looks to help some of the most effected businesses.

The Additional Restrictions Grant scheme is to support businesses outside the business rates system experiencing difficulties because of the Omicron variant.

As funds are limited, the council has said the scheme will support these specific sectors:

• businesses which supply the hospitality, events, leisure and travel sectors, including sole traders and businesses based at home.

The amount awarded will be a one-off amount of £1,500.

Eligible businesses

To qualify for this grant, your business is within the Braintree District and:

• achieves at least 50% of its income from the hospitality, leisure, travel and accommodation sectors either directly or indirectly through the supply chain.

• is outside of the business rates system and does not occupy a rateable premises on which it pays business rates.

Examples of businesses include:

• freelance and mobile businesses - including caterers, cleaners, events suppliers, hair and beauty).

• sole traders or home workers - including entertainers or taxi drivers

• travel agents.

Exclusions

The following businesses will not be eligible for an award:

• Businesses which have already received grant payments equal to most permitted levels of subsidy.

• Businesses which were in administration, insolvent or where a strike-off notice had been made.

• Businesses which quality for the Omicron Leisure and Hospitality Grant scheme.

• Businesses which form part of larger chain or franchise, except for those registered as sole traders.