Local business owners are now able to apply for a grant from the local council in the wake of Omicron and a subsequent loss of income.

Rutland businesses that have been affected by the recent Omicron wave of COVID-19 can now seek financial support through one of two new government grant schemes, administered locally by Rutland County Council.

Eligible businesses should now have received an email from Rutland County Council, inviting them to apply for the Government's Omicron Hospitality, Leisure Grant (OHLG) scheme. The scheme provides financial support of up to £6,000 for hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses, in recognition of the Omicron variant.

Business owners who believe they should be eligible for the OHLG scheme but have not been contacted by Rutland County Council should refer to the full grant guidance on the Council's website.

Rutland County Council has also launched a separate grant scheme for those businesses which are not eligible for OHLG but have still been affected by the Omicron wave. This second scheme is called the Omicron Additional Restrictions Grant (OARG). Businesses in the following sectors are encouraged to apply for OARG support before the closing date of the 11th of February 2022:

• Hospitality, accommodation and leisure.

• The travel and tourism sector, including group travel, travel agents and tour operators and coach operators.

• Wholesalers, English language schools, breweries.

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· Other businesses that may have not received other grant funding.

To qualify, businesses will need to have ongoing, business-related, fixed costs such as business rates, mortgage or rent. Businesses must have been trading on 30 December 2021 to be eligible to receive OARG funding under this scheme. Businesses cannot be in administration, insolvent or have received a strike off notice. They must be able to demonstrate the business has been impacted by the Omicron variant and not breach any subsidy rules if receiving a grant.

Full guidance and online applications can be found online.