Businesses hoping to benefit from the latest round of government funding to combat the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic have an extra week to apply after the deadline was extended.

Brent Council pushed the deadline for applications to the Discretionary Business Grants scheme back to 5pm on Monday (June 29) after several companies said they were struggling to get their documents in order by June 22.

Funding is available to microbusinesses in the borough that have not previously benefited from a support scheme aside from the Government’s furloughing programme.

They must also meet certain criteria, including having fewer than ten employees, a turnover of less than £632,000 or a balance sheet less than £316,000, been trading for at least a year on March 11, and evidence of at least a 50 per cent loss of income due to Covid-19.

Applicants will then be ranked based on their situation before the council decides on who is successful and releases the funds.

Cllr Shama Tatler, responsible for business at Brent Council, said: “We’re keen to get this money out to businesses as soon as we possibly can, but in listening to those who have been applying and who have tried applying, we’ve learned that having such a tight turnaround was perhaps a bit ambitious.

“Our priority has always been to get this money to where it’s needed most and where it can make the biggest impact for local companies and protect local jobs.

“Allowing more time allows those who are eligible for this funding to complete their applications and provide all the supporting evidence, which will be essential for when the criteria is applied and payments are made.”

The council opted to spread it £3.3 million allocation across 660 business, meaning each will receive £5,000 worth of support.

Alice Lester, an operational director at Brent Council, said the council had taken an approach that would benefit as many people as possible but still make a difference to each business.

“We know a lot of people will be disappointed if they are not eligible or they miss out, but this is the fairest way we can hand them out,” she said.

Visit www.brent.gov.uk/businessgrants for more information and application details.