Coronavirus Relief Grants

Which Government grants could my business be eligible for?

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and its financial implications on small businesses, the government has set up a variety of grants in order to help businesses weather the storm of local or national lockdowns. You may also be able to apply for emergency loan funding that has been set up by the government. To read more about “Bounce Back Loans” which need to be repaid eventually, you can read more here.

There are several grants and your business’ eligibility will be determined by several factors, including whether they are closed due to a national or local lockdown, whether the company is required to close completely, or doesn’t close but is still financially affected and whether your company pays business rates.

There are four main grants:

  1. LRSG (Closed) Addendum for businesses forced to close because of a national lockdown
  2. LRSG (Closed) for businesses forced to close due to a local lockdown/restrictions
  3. LRSG (Open) for businesses that have been severely impacted by local lockdowns/restrictions but not been forced to close
  4. ARG for businesses that do not pay business rates, or businesses which have been severely impacted by local lockdowns/restrictions but not been forced to close*

*ARG provides smaller grants than LRSG (Open)

Grants for closed businesses due to the national November/December lockdown

If your business must close because of the nationwide lockdown spanning from November 5th to December 2nd, you may be eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant: LRSG (closed) Addendum.

If your business qualifies, you may be entitled to a cash grant from your local council for each 28-day period of the lockdown.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to qualify for this grant, your business must:

  • Be based in England
  • Occupy property on which it pays business rates, and is the ratepayer
  • Have been forced to close due to the November/December national lockdown
  • Be unable to operate normal in-person customer service as a result of the lockdown.

This includes non-essential retailers, sports/leisure facilities, and restaurants which have gone from in-person service to exclusively take-away service.

You are NOT eligible if

  • You can continue to operate because your services are not specifically in-person services
  • You have voluntarily opted to close but not because you are required to by a national lockdown
  • You have exceeded the state aid limit.

Value of Grants Available

The value of the grant is dependent on the rateable value of the business property on the first day of the lockdown:

  • If your business has a property with a rateable value up to £15,000, you may be eligible for £1,334 per 28-day period
  • If your business has a property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000 you may be eligible for £2,000 per 28-day period
  • If your business has a property with a rateable value above £51,000 you may be eligible for £3,000 per 28-day period

More Information

You apply for the grant through your local council. More information about the process and eligibility requirements, including the state aid limits, can be read here.

Grants for closed businesses due to local lockdowns/high COVID alert levels

If your business must close because the COVID alert level is raised to “high” in the area where your business operates, you may be eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant: LRSG (Closed).

If your business qualifies, you are entitled to a cash grant from your local council for each 14-day-period of the lockdown.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to qualify for this grant, your business must:

  • Be based in England
  • Occupy property on which it pays business rates, and is the ratepayer
  • Be in an area with local restrictions beginning 9th September or later which have caused the business to close
  • Be unable to operate normal in-person customer service as a result of the lockdown
  • Have been forced to close for at least 14 days due to restrictions

This includes non-essential retailers, sports/leisure facilities, and restaurants which have gone from in-person service to exclusively take-away service.

You are not eligible if

  • You can continue to operate because your services are not specifically in-person services
  • Local restrictions last less than 14 days, or the business was closed for less than 14 days
  • You have voluntarily opted to close but not because you are required to by local restrictions
  • You have exceeded the state aid limit.
  • Your business has been forced to close because of a national lockdown, not a local lockdown. In this instance you may be eligible for the LRSG (closed) Addendum instead.

Value of Grants Available

The value of the grant is dependent on the rateable value of the business property on the first day of the lockdown:

  • If your business has a property with a rateable value up to £15,000, you may be eligible for £667 per 14-day period
  • If your business has a property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000 you may be eligible for £1,000 per 14-day period
  • If your business has a property with a rateable value above £51,000 you may be eligible for £1,500 per 14-day period

More Information

You can get multiple payments if the restrictions continue for additional 14-day periods. Each 14-day period will give you access to one grant payment, which you apply for through your local council.

More information about the application process and eligibility requirements, including the state aid limits, can be read here.

Grants for businesses which have been severely impacted due to local restrictions/high COVID alert levels

If your business remains open but has been severely impacted because the COVID alert level is raised to “high” in the area where your business operates, you may be eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant LRSG (Open).

If your business qualifies, you are entitled to a cash grant from your local council for each 28-day-period of the restrictions.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to qualify for this grant, your business must:

  • Be based in England
  • Be in an area with “High” or “Very High” local restrictions since August 1st
  • Has been severely impacted by local restrictions (but has not been required to close)
  • Have been established before the introduction of the “High” local restrictions

Your local council has the freedom to specify precise criteria for what constitutes eligibility for this grant, but it’s aimed at businesses in the hospitality sector.

You are NOT eligible if

  • Your business was established after the local restrictions came into place in your area
  • Your business is in administration, insolvency or has been struck off the Companies House register
  • You have exceeded the state aid limit.

Value of Grants Available

The value of the grant is dependent on the rateable value of the business property on the first day of the lockdown:

  • If your business has a property with a rateable value up to £15,000, you may be eligible for £934 per 28-day period
  • If your business has a property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000 you may be eligible for £1,400 per 28-day period
  • If your business has a property with a rateable value above £51,000 you may be eligible for £2,100 per 28-day period

More Information

You apply for the grants through your local council.  More information about the application process and eligibility requirements, including the state aid limits, can be read here.

Grants for businesses which do not pay business rates which have been forced to close, and businesses which have been impacted by COVID restrictions, but have not been forced to close.

If your business has been forced to close by COVID restrictions but you are inelligible for other grants such as LRSG (Closed) or LRSG (Closed) Addendum because your business does not pay business rates, you may be eligible for Additional Restrictions Grants (ARG)

Additionally, if your business hasn’t been required to close by restrictions, but has been financially impacted by restrictions, you may also be eligible for ARG compensation.

Eligibility Requirements

The eligibility requirements are set at the discretion of local councils, but these grants are aimed at businesses which do not pay business rates, or have been impacted because they supply retail, hospitality or leisure sectors, or are part of the events sector.

You are ineligible for this grant if your business is in administration, insolvency or has been struck off the Companies House register, or you have exceeded state aid limits.

More Information

If your business is open but still severely impacted by COVID restrictions, you may be able to apply for larger grants than ARG can offer through the LRSG (Closed) compensation scheme. You apply for ARG through your local council and more information about requirements, including state aid limits, and the application process for Additional Resource Grants here.

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