The Government have set out a package of temporary measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
We have now set up online applications for:
Apply for a Small business grant fund (£10,000)
The Government recognises that many small businesses pay little or no business rates because of Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR).
To support those businesses further at this time, the Government has provided funding for local authorities in England to provide a one-off grant of £10,000 to around 700,000 businesses currently eligible for SBRR, to help meet their ongoing business costs.
Am I eligible?
You may be eligible to receive a one-off grant of £10,000 to help you meet your on-going costs if:
- Your business is based in England and
- You are the ratepayer
- You are a small business (as defined) with premises which on 11th March 2020 were eligible for Small Business Rate Relief and
- Your business was not in liquidation or dissolved as of 11th March 2020
- You have not already made a claim for, and received funding from, the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund
- The hereditament is not occupied for personal use. Examples of where there may be personal use include private stables and loose boxes, beach huts and moorings.
Car parks and parking spaces are excluded from the grant scheme.
Check your latest bill (these were sent around 11th March 2020) to see if you were eligible for Small Business Rates Relief.
What will I get?
Eligible businesses will receive a £10,000 grant for each hereditament (this means one grant for each occupied and rateable premises).
Eligible businesses are only entitled to claim one grant per premises from either the Small Business Grant Fund OR the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund not both.
How can I apply?
Please apply online, do not email us as this may lead to duplication or delays in your claim being considered.
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To complete your application form you will need the following information ready:
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Apply for a small business grant
We are processing all applications as quickly as possible, but we are receiving a large volume of applications and aim to make payment within a month. If you have not received your payment by the end of May, please contact us at [email protected]
Apply for a retail, hospitality and leisure grant fund (RHLG) (£10,000 or £25,000)
A £10,000 grant will be provided to eligible retail, hospitality and leisure businesses operating from smaller premises, with a rateable value up to £15,000 (unless the property already qualifies for the £10,000 grant payable under the Small Business Grant.)
Eligible businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a grant of £25,000.
Am I eligible?
If you are in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors (as defined*) with a rateable value of less than £51,000 then you may be eligible.
See our full policy which takes into account the extended guidance. If your business rates bill did not show a reduction for the Retail Discount and you think you should now get it under the expanded criteria please submit an application. If this is successful you can then make an application for the RHLG.
The following qualifying criteria also apply:
- your business must be based in England
- you are the ratepayer
- your property is wholly or mainly being used:
- as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues
- for assembly and leisure
- as hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation
- your business was not in liquidation or dissolved as of 11th March 2020
- you have not already made a claim for, and received funding from the Small Business Grant Fund
- the hereditament is not occupied for personal use. Examples of where there may be personal use include private stables and loose boxes, beach huts and moorings.
Car parks and parking spaces are excluded from the grant scheme.
What will I get?
Eligible business with a Rateable Value of up to and including £15,000 will receive a grant of £10,000.
Eligible businesses with a Rateable Value of over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a one-off grant of £25,000 for each hereditament.
Businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or more are not eligible for this scheme
A hereditament is defined as occupied and rateable premises.
If you are the ratepayer for more than one premises you can claim a grant for each occupied and rateable premises.
Eligible businesses are only entitled to claim one grant per premises from either the Small Business Grant Fund OR the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund not both.
How can I apply?
Please apply online, do not email us as this may lead to duplication or delays in your claim being considered.
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To complete your application form you will need the following information ready:
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Apply for a RHLG business grant
We are processing all applications as quickly as possible, but we are receiving a large volume of applications and aim to make payment within a month. If you have not received your payment by the end of May, please contact us at [email protected]
Falsifying information to get this grant
Be aware that in addition to the declaration that you will be asked to sign when submitting this application, data will be shared with Spotlight in accordance with the guidance and where issues are flagged we will withhold payment and in a post payment assurance due diligence exercise if any issues are identified you will be contacted again.
Where there is evidence of the grant being claimed falsely or records falsified to obtain the grant you will be open to prosecution and the grant amount will be recovered.
Retail discount
At Autumn Budget 2018, the Government announced a one-third discount for eligible retail businesses with a rateable value of less than £51,000, up to state aid limits.
Since, the Government has extended the value of Retail Discount to 100% for 2020/21 and the scheme is also being expanded to include the leisure and hospitality sectors.
There is also no longer a rateable value limit on the relief. Amended (nil) demand notices confirming the business rates holiday for qualifiers in 2020/21 will be issued as soon as possible.
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An undertaking in distress means a company where at least one of the following circumstances applied on the 31st December 2019: a. In the case of a limited liability company (other than a small or medium sized company “SME” that has been in existence for less than three years), where more than half of its subscribed share capital has disappeared as a result of accumulated losses. This is the case when deduction of accumulated losses from reserves (and all other elements generally considered as part of the own funds of the company)leads to a negative cumulative amount that exceeds half of the subscribed share capital. b. In the case of a company where at least some members have unlimited liability for the debt of the company (other than an SME that has been in existence for less than three years), where more than half of its capital as shown in the company accounts has disappeared as a result of accumulated losses. c. Where the undertaking is subject to collective insolvency proceedings or fulfils the criteria under its domestic law for being placed in collective insolvency proceedings at the request of its creditors. d. Where the undertaking has received rescue aid and has not yet reimbursed the loan or terminated the guarantee, or has received restructuring aid and is still subject to a restructuring plan. e. In the case of an undertaking that is not an SME, where, for the past two years: |