South Gloucestershire Council has made a further 219 grant awards, totalling almost £1.2m, under the Government’s Discretionary Small Business Support Grants programme, as part of their commitment to helping local companies respond to the Covid-19 crisis and be ready to thrive once more when trading conditions improve.

In this final round for small businesses the council allowed those working from their homes to apply, going above and beyond the standard criteria set by the Government.

The most recent round of grants means they have now allocated nearly £40million to retailers and hospitality and leisure businesses; as well as including targeted help for some of the smallest businesses through the discretionary grant scheme.

Conditions for traders of all kinds remain difficult as the council continue their efforts to keep employees of local businesses and their customers as safe as possible from Covid-19.

Sandra Davies, landlady of The Swan in Thornbury, said: “These have been incredibly difficult conditions for us, but we are able to carry on, and provide somewhere for local people to come to spend time safely for something to eat and drink, thanks to the community support and the Council who have helped out with a grant.

"We want to be here for our customers for the long term, so this help to get through such tough times is invaluable.”

Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources Cllr Ben Burton said: “Local Businesses are at the heart of our local high streets and communities. They are part of why we love where we live and they provide not just direct employment to local people, but also contribute to the economic activity that makes our high streets viable.

“We have and will continue to work with local traders to support our high streets and these grant programmes have and will continue to mean that local businesses can ride out these incredibly difficult times and be there for us when we come out the other side of this.”