Now local businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors are being urged to get their claim in for a slice of the remaining cash.

Eligible enterprises are invited to apply for up to £6,000 - grants are based on the rateable value of the commercial premises - to help mitigate the impact of the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Middlesbrough Council has received around 250 applications to date, with successful applicants including 131 The Venue on Linthorpe Road.

It's one of five social enterprise businesses operating under the Recovery Connections banner.

Alongside providing a range of hospitality services, the businesses also support people back into work through practical work experience, training and volunteering.
 

The popular town centre event space was hit hard by cancelled bookings and staff absence at the height of the pandemic.

Recovery Connections CEO Dot Smith said the grant funding had been invaluable in enabling venues like 131 Linthorpe Road to stay afloat during uncertain times.

She said: "The grant has come to us at a welcome time, as we look forward to a rewarding 2022 as a social enterprise business.

"At the end of last year, it wasn't only Covid restrictions that affected our ability to host and plan events.

"There were also many perfectly understandable concerns about running or attending events, which impacted us too.

"Events were often cancelled, or at the least postponed, leaving us with the same staff and running costs, but without the revenue we anticipated.

"But, with the support of the grant at the start of this year we are ideally positioned to provide the best parties and celebrations for our customers and community."

Councillor Barrie Cooper, Middlesbrough Council's Executive member for Environment, Finance & Governance, said: "Businesses are the lifeblood of the town, and none more so than in the vital hospitality and leisure sector.

"We've done everything we can to support them throughout the pandemic, and the grant funding has been vital in helping many of them survive.

"This final round of funding will make a real difference, so I'd urge businesses to make the most of it while they can.

"It's vital that eligible businesses apply as soon as possible to ensure our teams have enough time to process all the claims before the scheme closes next month."

A further £294 million in business support is also available nationally through the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) scheme.
 

Middlesbrough Council's latest discretionary scheme is targeted to a number of business sectors associated with hospitality and leisure and has received more than 70 applications to date.

• The closing date for applications is Thursday, March 17, and the scheme will close on Thursday, March 31.

For more information and to make an application, visit Coronavirus: business support | Middlesbrough Council