Today the Chancellor has announced £5 billion in Restart Grants for high street shops and hospitality firms – ensuring the hardest-hit businesses have the support they need through the next stage of recovery.

As we begin to move into the next phase of our recovery, and a gradual return to normality, the reopening of our high streets will be key to kick-starting our economic recovery.

That is why the Government are delivering further support to the thousands of businesses that have been hit hardest by the pandemic through a new £5 billion grant scheme – ensuring firms can reopen and get going again as restrictions ease and people return to their high streets.

Under the scheme, non-essential retail businesses will get up to £6,000 per premise to help them reopen and start trading safely. Hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses in England – which will open later under the roadmap or will be more impacted by restrictions when they do open – will get up to £18,000 per premise.

There is now light at the end of the tunnel and this support, combined with our record-breaking vaccine programme, will allow our high-street shops to reopen their doors with optimism.

The Chancellor will outline further details of the next steps in our response to the pandemic at the Budget on Wednesday 3 March.