During this latest period of national restrictions, covering the period 5 November to 2 December 2020, during which certain businesses have been required to close in order to manage the spread of coronavirus, and other businesses that haven’t been required to close have still been affected by the restrictions, two of the funds are available to support businesses:

1. Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum Grant
Businesses required to close due to national “lockdown” restrictions are able to apply for grants of up to £3,000 per 28 day period. Although different Local Authorities have set out the details of this grant in slightly different ways, the key points are as follows:
Eligibility
The business occupies property on which it is liable for business rates, and was open as usual before the November lockdown restrictions took effect
The business has been required to close because of the national restrictions (5/11/20 to 2/12/20)
The business has been unable to provide its usual in-person customer service from its premises (if the substantive business has closed but a click and collect service is being provided, it may still be possible to apply)
Businesses Excluded from the Fund
A business that can continue to operate during the period of restrictions because the business does not depend on providing direct in-person services from the premises (eg accountants and solicitors)
A business has chosen to close, but has not been required to close as part of the national restrictions
A business that is in administration or insolvent
Entitlement
The grant will be based on the Rateable Value of the premises on the first full day of restrictions
Rateable Value of £15,000 or less – cash grant of £1,334 for each 28 days qualifying restrictions period
Rateable Value of £15,001 to £50,999 – cash grant of £2,000 for each 28 days qualifying restrictions period
Rateable Value of £51,000 or more – cash grant of £3,000 for each 28 days qualifying restrictions period
Eligible businesses should be able to apply for these grants on-line; the party who should apply and is entitled to the funding is the party who, according to the Billing Authority’s records, was the rateable occupier on 5 November 2020
Businesses with more than one qualifying property will be eligible for more than one grant (this is a mandatory grant for business, and is not based on eligibility for rate relief)

2. Additional Restrictions Grant
This grant provides additional funding for Local Authorities in Local COVID Alert Level Very High areas, to support businesses that have had their trade affected by the restrictions. This includes closed businesses that don’t pay business rates and businesses that have not been required to close but are still severely impacted. Each Local Authority has the discretion to establish business grant schemes or other business support as best fits their area. It would appear that most Local Authorities are still devising their own individual policies in this regard.

Please note that larger businesses may have to check whether their eligibility for further grant funding may be restricted by the State Aid Framework