The £1m City of York Council fund for small businesses is now open

A £1m City of York Council support fund for small and micro businesses which don’t qualify for government support has now been fully launched, with applications now open.

The City of York Council micro business grants scheme, which we previewed here, will deliver grants of up to £1000 into 1000 self-employed, micro and small businesses who need it most.

Applications can be made through https://www.york.gov.uk/COVIDMicroGrant and are available to businesses which:

  • have 50 or fewer employees, including one person business/self-employed;
  • need support adapting to new trading arrangements;
  • are experiencing financial hardship due to coronavirus, and
  • do not qualify for any other government grant or rate relief support packages.


The form can also be used to apply for free membership to the Federation of Small Businesses, available to those with 30 or fewer employees. This will give between 500 and 1000 businesses, depending on the size of those that apply, access to a range of services covering everything from legal and advice to cyber protection and insurance.

Council leader Keith Aspden said:

  • With £66m of business rates relief applied, and the first batch of £48m grants arriving in businesses’ bank accounts, it is essential that we provide a local fund open to support the thousands of York businesses who do not qualify for government support.

    Grants are available to the first 1,000 eligible businesses, so please don’t delay your application.

    We will continue to work with our partners to support our local businesses, so they can secure cashflow, adapt to the current crisis and protect jobs.