Small and medium-sized enterprises in Cumbria can apply for new grants to help them recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Cumbria Business Growth Hub is administering two schemes, one for tourism businesses and the other open to all sectors.

From today, businesses can apply for grants from £1,000 to £5,000 to cover the cost of buying-in specialist advice to address their immediate needs.

They must be able to demonstrate a 40 per cent loss of income, caused by the pandemic, between March and June compared with the same period in 2019.

Suzanne Caldwell, deputy chief executive of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, the lead partner in the Growth Hub, said: “This is a great opportunity to help some of the smaller businesses in the county that have been hit hardest under lockdown.

“I’d urge them to act quickly though.

"There is a finite pot of money and it’s a very much a case of first come, first served.

“I’d also ask businesses that have benefited from previous Growth Hub funding to think carefully before applying because there are many other businesses that haven’t, until now, been able to access Growth Hub funding.”

“While the maximum grant is £5,000, we expect most to be in the range £1,000 and £3,000.”

Businesses can use the grants to buy in specialist advice including HR, accountancy, legal, financial and health and safety.

Visitor economy businesses can also apply for grants to boost productivity through digital tools, such as yield-management software, mentoring, networking or other measures.

They can also get grants to adapt to social distancing, for example new ways to deliver cultural events and festivals.

Businesses are required to secure three quotes from potential providers but do not have to choose the cheapest.

Recent start-ups, which may not have trading figures from last year to show they suffered a 40 per cent loss of income, will be able to compare against forecast income instead.

The same applies to businesses on high-growth trajectories.

To start the application process, businesses should email info@cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk