Business support from 1 April 2021

Business support from 1 April 2021

• Ratepaying businesses may be eligible for the restart grants depending on your sector (see below)
• Non-ratepaying businesses and businesses which do not meet the criteria below may be able to apply for further discretionary grants subject from any remaining discretionary grant funding that has not been awarded as part of the current discretionary grant scheme.  Details of this scheme are expected to be available from 10 May. The reason for the delay is that we have a finite pot of funding and applications are still being processed whilst the current discretionary schemes remain open. Once any remaining grant pot is clear, the remainder of this fund will be paid to businesses as soon as possible.
• Business rates relief Retail, Hospitality & Leisure – The relief for retail, hospitality and leisure scheme has been extended until 30 June 2021 at 100% relief. Relief from 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022 will be at 66% relief. Eligible businesses will have this indicated on their 2021/22 bill.
• Business rates relief, other sectors – the Government has announced business rates relief for businesses outside the retail, hospitality and leisure scheme. No further details have been released. Once this scheme is available to apply for more information will be posted here.

Restart grants

The Restart Grant scheme is for businesses on the ratings list only and is a one-off grant. Below are the categories of business and the value of the grants. These new grants are now available, please see below to check which category applies to you.

If you are unsure which type of business you are, please see the categorisation of businesses.

Non-essential retail premises

Non-essential retail premises will receive one-off grants of up to £6,000. Businesses occupying hereditaments (properties) with a rateable value of;

1. exactly £15,000 or under on 1 April 2021 will receive a payment of £2,667.
2. over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on 1 April 2021 will receive a payment of £4,000.
3. exactly £51,000 or over on 1 April 2021 will receive a payment of £6,000.

Hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym business premises

Hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym business premises will receive one-off grants of up to £18,000. Businesses occupying hereditaments (properties) with a rateable value of;

1. exactly £15,000 or under on 1 April 2021 will receive a payment of £8,000.
2. over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on 1 April 2021 will receive a payment of £12,000.
3. exactly £51,000 or over on 1 April 2021 will receive a payment of £18,000.

Categorisation of businesses

The below has been extracted from the latest Government guidance and is accurate as of 30 March. If future updates to the guidance are provided the content below may change.

Non-essential retail

For the purposes of this scheme, a non-essential retail business can be defined as a business that is used mainly or wholly for the purposes of retail sale or hire of goods or services by the public, where the primary purpose of products or services provided are not necessary to the health and well-being of the public.

Local Authorities may use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses offering in-person non-essential retail to the general public.
• Businesses that were likely to have been required to cease their retail operation in the January 2021 lockdown.
• Businesses that had retail services restricted during January lockdown.
• Businesses that sell directly to consumers.

For these purposes, the definition of a non-essential retail business should exclude: food retailers, including food markets, supermarkets, convenience stores, corners shops, off licences, breweries, pharmacies, chemists, newsagents, animal rescue centres and boarding facilities, building merchants, petrol stations, vehicle repair and MOT services, bicycle shops, taxi and vehicle hire businesses, education providers including tutoring services, banks, building societies and other financial providers, post offices, funeral directors, laundrettes and dry cleaners, medical practices, veterinary surgeries and pet shops, agricultural supply shops, garden centres, storage and distribution facilities, wholesalers, employment agencies and businesses, office buildings, automatic car washes and mobility support shops.

Hospitality

For the purposes of this scheme, a hospitality business can be defined as a business whose main function is to provide a venue for the consumption and sale of food and drink.
Local Authorities may use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses offering in-person food and drink services to the general public.
• Businesses that provide food and/or drink to be consumed on the premises, including outdoors.

For these purposes, the definition of a hospitality retail business should exclude food kiosks and businesses whose main service is a takeaway (not applicable to those that have adapted to offer takeaways during periods of restrictions, in alignment with previous COVID-19 business grant schemes).

Leisure

For the purposes of this scheme, a leisure business can be defined as a business that provides opportunities, experiences and facilities, in particular for culture, recreation, entertainment, celebratory events and days and nights out.

Local Authorities may use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses that may provide in-person intangible experiences in addition to goods.
• Businesses that may rely on seasonal labour.
• Businesses that may assume particular public safety responsibilities.
• Businesses that may operate with irregular hours throughout the day, night and weekends.

For these purposes, the definition of a leisure business should exclude all retail businesses, coach tour operators, tour operators and telescopes.

Accommodation

For the purposes of this scheme, an accommodation business can be defined as a business whose main lodging provision is used for holiday, travel and other purposes.
Local Authorities may use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses that provide accommodation for ‘away from home’ stays for work or leisure purposes.
• Businesses that provide accommodation for short-term leisure and holiday purposes.

For these purposes, the definition of an accommodation business should exclude private dwellings, education accommodation, residential homes, care homes, residential family centres, beach huts.

Gym & sports

For the purposes of this scheme, a gym & sports business can be defined as a commercial or non-profit establishment where physical exercise or training is conducted on an individual basis or group basis, using exercise equipment or open floor space with or without instruction, or where individual and group sporting, athletic and physical activities are participated in competitively or recreationally.
Local Authorities may use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses that offer in-person exercise and sports activities to the general public.
• Businesses that open to members of the public paying an entry or membership fee.
• Businesses that require extensive cleaning protocols, which significantly slow down trade.
• Businesses that offer exercise classes or activities, which may mandate space and no masks etc.

For these purposes, the definition of a gym & sports business should exclude home gyms, home exercise studios, home sports courts and home sports grounds.

Personal care

For the purposes of this scheme, a personal care business can be defined as a business which provides a service, treatment or activity for the purposes of personal beauty, hair, grooming, body care and aesthetics, and wellbeing.

Local Authorities may use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses that deliver in-person holistic, beauty and hair treatments.
• Businesses that provide services such as tattoos and piercings.
• Businesses that offer close-contact services, which are required to deliver the treatment.
• Businesses that offer services, treatments or activities that require social distancing and cleaning protocols, which have led to a reduction in their capacity to deliver personal care services.

For these purposes, the definition of a personal care business should exclude: businesses that only provide personal care goods, rather than services; businesses used solely as training centres for staff, apprentices and others; businesses providing dental services, opticians, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or health services, including services which incorporate personal care services, treatments required by those with disabilities and services relating to mental health.