Covid-19: Business grants and financial support

On this page

• Digital tech resilience grant - currently closed to new applications
• Ventilation Grant Scheme Round 2 - currently closed to new applications
• North of Tyne innovation recovery grant
• Further help and advice

Digital Tech Resilience Grant - currently closed to new applications

Funded by Newcastle City Council, the Digital Tech Resilience Grant will cover 50% of the costs (up to £3000) to implement a technology that increases business and covid resilience. The aim of the grant is to ultimately improve public health by reducing the risk of increased covid cases.

For example, you could be a taxi driver looking to introduce a digital payment system to reduce cash handling, or a retailer encouraging digital pre-orders to reduce unnecessary touching of in-store products.

The Digital Tech Resilience Grant is your next step after accessing free business support delivered by the Digital Pathfinders team; digital experts who will help you derisk your investment. Their support is tailored to your business and digital needs, whether you’re completely new to technology or already know what you’re looking for.

The full eligibility details can be viewed on our Covid 19 business grants eligibility criteria page.

To register for the Digital Pathfinders programme complete the online form, or contact us to learn more about the Digital Tech Resilience Grant.

Ventilation Grant Scheme Round 2 - currently closed to new applications

Funded by Newcastle City Council, the Ventilation Grant scheme will cover up to 100% of the eligible costs (up to a maximum of £10,000) associated with alterations, maintenance and/or refurbishment works that contribute to the improvement of indoor air quality within your business premises. Examples of the type of investment we may be able to support includes the installation/ replacement of openable windows or mechanical ventilation. 

The full eligibility details can be viewed on our Covid 19 business grants eligibility criteria page.

Typically grants will be paid retrospectively. That means, successful applicants will need to evidence they have paid for the work before your grant will be paid. The current deadline for grant payments is the end of February 2024. Potential applicants should consider whether their planned works could be completed and paid within this timeframe.

Potential applicants must first express an interest in the scheme by contacting PublicHealthAdmin@newcastle.gov.uk  with details of their proposed investment and the rough cost. Should this be deemed in line with our eligibility criteria, the potential applicant will then be issued with an application form. Within this form, applicants will be required to confirm how they meet the eligibility criteria for the funding. Applicants will also need to provide copies of quotes and any other evidence to support their application.

North of Tyne Innovation Recovery Grant

A new £1.5m grant fund has been launched by the North of Tyne Combined Authority to support business innovation across North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland.

The North of Tyne Innovation Recovery Grant is part of the Authority’s package of support to businesses dealing with the impact of COVID-19. It is designed to enable a green and sustainable recovery by funding projects that have potential to safeguard and create new jobs, build a more inclusive economy, and contribute towards the net zero agenda.

It is delivered on behalf of the North of Tyne Combined Authority by NBSL and the Innovation SuperNetwork, who together bring combined experience in managing both grant funding projects and delivering innovation support.

Find out more on the North of Tyne Combined Authority innovation recovery grant website.

Business rates relief

Retail, hospitality and leisure businesses who pay business rates will also be able to benefit from a 75% reduction in 2021/22 and a 50% reduction in 2022/23

This process will be automated, and businesses do not need to contact the council. 

Any additional support through the business rates system will be managed by our business rates team.

For further information, see the business rates Coronavirus information page.

Further help and advice

Please email our business support team and our team will be in touch as soon as possible.  

We also continue to offer our usual support for businesses. Details of this can be found via out business support in Newcastle page