Following recent Government announcements relating to the provision of Grants to support business, we set out below an update from the Government.

Central Government has now provided guidance to local authorities on the eligibility of the schemes available to the various sectors based on rateable values.

We would advise the reader to use the Government links contained within this guidance to assist in assessing your eligibility.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses

 

  1. Recap Re Leisure, Hospitality & Retail Business Grants Availability
  • The Retail and Hospitality Grant Scheme provides businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with a cash grant of up to £25,000 per property;
  • Businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of £15,000 and under will receive a grant of £10,000;
  • Businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000 will receive a grant of £25,000.

 

  1. Eligibility
  • You are eligible for the grant if:
  • your business is based in England;
  • your business is in the retail, hospitality and/or leisure sector
  • Properties that will benefit from the relief will be occupied hereditaments that are 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

 

  1. How to access the scheme
  • You do not need to do anything. Your local authority will write to you if you are eligible for this grant.
  • Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the reliefs and grants should be directed to the relevant local authority.

 

  1. Support for nursery businesses that pay business rates
  • The Government has introduced a business rates holiday for nurseries in England for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.
  • Eligibility
  • You are eligible for the business rates holiday if your business is based in England
  • Properties that will benefit from the relief will be hereditaments:
  • occupied by providers on Ofsted’s Early Years Register
  • wholly or mainly used for the provision of the Early Years Foundation Stage
  • How to access the scheme
  • There is no action for you.
  • This will automatically apply to your next council tax bill in April 2020.
  • However, local authorities may have to reissue your bill to exclude the business rate charge – we understand that they will do this as soon as possible.
  • You can estimate the business rate charge you will no longer have to pay this year using the business rates calculator.

 

  1. Support for businesses that pay little or no business rates
  • The government will provide additional Small Business Grant Scheme funding for local authorities to support small businesses that already pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief (SBBR), rural rate relief (RRR) and tapered relief.
  • This will provide a one-off grant of £10,000 to eligible businesses to help meet their ongoing business costs.
  • Eligibility
  • You are eligible if:
  • your business is based in England
  • you are a small business and already receive SBBR and/or RRR
  • you are a business that occupies property
  • How to access the scheme
  • You do not need to do anything. Your local authority will write to you if you are eligible for this grant.
  • Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the reliefs and grants should be directed to the relevant local authority.