Businesses in Doncaster and the rest of South Yorkshire that are still struggling with the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are to be provided with further help.

The Mayoral Combined Authority for Sheffield City Region has managed to claim £9 million more through the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) in recognition of the fact that firms in the region have been especially impacted by the lockdowns.

This will be used to support firms in Doncaster and the wider South Yorkshire area, with £2 million allocated to the Visitor and Culture industry, £1.5 million to hotels, restaurants and pubs, £4 million to support the growth of start-ups, £1 million for increasing productivity among existing businesses and £0.8 million to be invested in digital innovation.

Speaking to the Doncaster Free Press, Sheffield City Region LEP Chair James Muir said that struggling firms throughout the region could call on financial support from a range of sources, adding:

“It remains a hugely challenging time for South Yorkshire businesses and the grant funding plus the support that businesses can get through business support advisors based at each local authority, is very much needed.”

These firms can also look to a small business accountant in Doncaster or any other part of South Yorkshire for guidance about everything from managing their cash flow to securing investment.

The ARG is intended to run alongside the scheme devised by the Mayoral Combined Authority called the Renewal Action Plan (RAP). This latter scheme is about putting together a post-Covid-19 roadmap for the businesses and economy of the region.