Archive: This report concerns temporary support for businesses affected by the Omicron wave. The council announced the scheme in February 2022; applications are closed.

Additional financial support for businesses not eligible for the mandatory Omicron hospitality and leisure grant was introduced by High Peak Borough Council.

In 2022, the council had a £167,000 budget for discretionary grants to eligible suppliers to hospitality, leisure and accommodation, travel businesses and event-space businesses that did not qualify for the mandatory grant.

The grants were intended to help with overheads during the period when trade was most affected.

In February 2022, Council Leader Councillor Anthony McKeown said: “The ongoing effects of the pandemic continue to hit businesses across the High Peak so we’ve targeted this additional financial help to those that don’t qualify for the mandatory Omicron grant.

“We want to see our local businesses thriving and offering discretionary grants such as this means we can support more local companies through this challenging period.

“As ever, we want to get this money out to businesses and making a difference as quickly as possible so I would urge those that are eligible to apply now as the deadline is fast approaching.”

The 2022 deadlines were 4 March for the discretionary fund and 11 March for the mandatory fund.

Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure, Councillor Damien Greenhalgh said: “Ideally we would have supported a wider range of businesses but the amount awarded to the Borough is relatively small so we have had to make some tough choices.

“In view of that, we’ve prioritised those who will have faced event cancellations, their suppliers and the travel sector.”

For current support, search High Peak business funding or government business support.