Click Here for GOVT UPDATED GUIDANCE – 29th May 2020
The Discretionary top up grant scheme was announced a month ago and was designed to provide some financial assistance to businesses who have premises but who didn’t qualify for the 2 main grants for those who qualified for Small Business Rates Relief or The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure sectors. Many businesses have been eagerly awaiting the details of how and when to apply and it has been announced that these should be available from 1st June 2020 from our local councils.
Each Council can determine some of the specific criteria and amounts for the grants but there is some national criteria which businesses will need to meet as follows:-
Eligibility
You’re eligible if your business:
- is based in England
- has fewer than 50 employees
- has fixed building costs such as rent
- was trading on 11 March 2020
- has been adversely impacted by the coronavirus
Who cannot apply
You cannot apply if your business:
- is in administration, insolvent or has received a striking-off notice
Originally the guidance said you couldnt apply if you paid business rates but this line seems to have been removed – we would advise you to check the criteria shown on Local Authority websites when applying for up to date information.
If you’re already claiming funding
You cannot apply if you’re already claiming under another government grant scheme, such as:
- Small Business Grant Fund
- Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant
- Fisheries Response Fund
- Domestic Seafood Supply Scheme
- Zoos Support Fund
- Dairy Hardship Fund
Each Local Authority will assess the claims and make the Discretionary Grants based on the above and their own additional criteria.
Priority will be given to those who have high premises costs and those in shared work spaces who didn’t qualify for the original grants as they do not directly pay business rates. It will also covers businesses such as B&B’s who are assessed under council tax rather then business rates
It appears that there will be a very short window for businesses to apply for the grants and in some cases the application process will only be open for 2 weeks
The relevant pages for the local councils and their criteria and application processes are here
South Lakeland District Council
National Guidance Can be found here
If you would like to discuss the possibility of claiming or need any assistance with it please contact us 01229 820390 info@winders.co.uk
