Sponsoring Agency: Knowsley Working Well
Type of Fund: Grant
Deadline Available: Available
Deadline Date (mm/dd/yyyy): 06/30/2021
Size of the Fund: Less than USD $50,000
Knowsley Working Well has secured additional funding from Knowsley’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) to assist local businesses (SME’s) and employees as they return to the workplace following the latest Covid-19 national lockdown.
The purpose of the COVID-19 Workplace Grant (CWG) is to assist businesses and employees as they return to the workplace under ‘new normal’ working conditions, and to introduce new working practices that will support employees. This grant builds on the well-established Knowsley Working Well programme and will enable companies to apply for grants so that they are supported in meeting the standards around Health & Safety, Leadership and Mental Health & Wellbeing.
A total £300,000 of funding is in place for Covid-19 Workplace Grants that will enable companies to fund infrastructure items to enhance their premises into sustainable Covid-19 secure environments as more employees and customers return to the setting. The grant can also be used to help businesses to provide increased support for their staff whose wider health may have suffered during lockdown or upon returning to the workplace, for example staff Mental Health support.
Grants can only be used for new initiatives or activity. There are many things the funding can be used for, such as:
• Automatic hand-sanitisers and other ‘non-touch’ systems
• Automated systems to prevent cross-contamination
• Additional PPE
• Signage, high viz jackets etc
• Perspex Screens
• Re-evaluation of office layout
• Health & Safety advisor support
Grant Information
Grant payments are based on the rateable value (or rent equivalent) of the commercial property that the business or organisation is operating from:
• RV up to £15,000: grant up to £1,000
• RV £15,001 – £51,000: grant up to £2,000
• RV over £51,000: grant up to £3,000
Companies can apply for a grant to support infrastructure items and also for staff support initiatives. Therefore, depending on the RV of the property a company could receive a maximum of £6,000.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for funding the applicant must: –
• Must be a small or micro business employing between 2 – 249 staff (as defined in Section 33 Part 2 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 and the Companies Act 2006) and be able to accept the grant under Covid-19 Business Grant Subsidy Allowance rules
• Be based in the Knowsley, currently trading and continuing to trade with a view to making a profit or surplus (i.e. not a dormant company).
• Meet the criteria as shown on the application form and provide ALL evidence and information as required.
• Provide a copy of a Health and Safety Policy (showing a date of publication which must be within the last 12 months), a current Covid-19 Risk Assessment, and copies of both current Public and Employers’ Liability insurance.
• Provide a copy of the most recent Business Rates statement, or if not in rates a copy of a current lease, licence or rental agreement showing the address the business is based and the amount payable per annum.
• Details of a business bank account which relates to the property information (personal or individual bank account information is not acceptable).
• Sign up and work towards the “Working Well” (WW) programme and the 8 standards. This can be done over an arranged Zoom meeting, face-to-face if safe to do so, or over the telephone.
• Sign up to the Workplace Health and Wellbeing Champion scheme.
• Acknowledge in any publicity or promotion that Working Well Small Grants for Health Initiatives has helped fund activities, eg. On any printed/promotional materials, website, Intranet, etc.
• Be compliant with law and practice in relation to diversity and equal opportunities and have an active commitment to take account of the needs of different groups of individuals within the organisation.
• Provide evidence of costs for purchasing the equipment, goods or material ie. Quotations.
• Give details of the number of staff and/or volunteers.
The role of Knowsley Chamber will offer support and advice in relation to the application, however it will not pursue missing information or evidence if this is missing from the original application. Therefore, incomplete applications will not be appraised.
More information at: https://www.knowsleynews.co.uk/knowsley-working-well-covid-19-workplace-grant-goes-live/
