Covid-19 support grants for businesses
The government have published a number of new grants available to businesses impacted by local and national restrictions due to Covid-19. The different grants available, along with which business can claim, are listed below.
Support for hospitality businesses when we enter Tier 3 - following the announcement from government that County Durham will be in Tier 3 from 2 December; many hospitality businesses will want to know what support is available. To make things as easy as possible, we will contact hospitality businesses who have claimed support previously, you will not need to make a new claim for support or contact us. You only need to claim if your business is forced to close and you have not claimed any Covid support previously.
We have received a high number of claims for support grants since applications opened on 12 November. We are working hard to process them all as quickly as possible. If you have applied we will contact you once we have reviewed your application.
See if your business is eligible
Read through the information below on the different business grants available to see if you're eligible (you may be eligible to claim more than one grant):
- Businesses affected by restrictions on socialising between 18 September and 4 November
- Businesses impacted by national lockdown between 5 November and 2 December
- Businesses not allowed to open since 23 March
Apply for a Covid-19 business grant if your business is covered by any of these grant schemes. If you're eligible for more than one grant you only need to complete one application.
Before you apply, make sure you have your business rates account number. If you don't have a business rates account but think you're eligible for a grant, you need your national insurance number.
Businesses affected by restrictions on socialising between 18 September and 4 November
Also called Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open)
If your business remained open but was severely impacted by the Tier 2 restrictions on socialising (between 18 September and 4 November) you may be entitled to claim support under this scheme.
Businesses covered by the scheme
This scheme is aimed at businesses that were open when these restrictions came in and specifically those within the hospitality, accommodation and leisure sectors which includes hotels, restaurants, cafe's, bars, sports and leisure venues, local community buildings and local charity shops.
This also includes supply chains to these businesses who have been severely impacted (for example, food suppliers to restaurants, hotels, cafes or leisure venues).
Businesses not covered by the scheme
Businesses associated with personal care such as those in the Health and Beauty industry (including hairdressers and tattooists) are not eligible for this grant. Neither are any other general retail business or garden centres.
Payment amount
If you are covered by the scheme, you will receive the payment for the full period you were affected. The payment amount depends on the rateable value of the business premises occupied that was impacted by the restrictions on socialising as follows.
| Rateable value of your property | Total payment per week | Total payment for 7 week period from 18 September to 04 November |
|---|---|---|
| Less than £15,000 | £233.50 | £1,634.50 |
| More than £15,000 and less than £51,000 | £350 | £2,450 |
| More than £51,000 | £525 | £3675 |
Businesses impacted by national lockdown between 5 November and 2 December
Also called Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed)
Businesses covered by the scheme
The government has set out which businesses should be closed and which ones can remain open during national lockdown. If your business is required to close its main service, in accordance with Government requirements, you are eligible to receive a grant through this scheme.
You may also be eligible for this grant if the main part of your business is closed but you have changed the nature of your business. For example you are now providing a 'click and collect' or takeaways rather than in-person service, such as a cafe, bar or restaurant.
If you are supplier to a business that's required to close and this has had a severe impact on your business, you may also be eligible.
Businesses not covered by the scheme
If your businesses can remain open in line with government guidelines but you've chosen to close, you are not be eligible for this support.
If you operate your business from home you're also not eligible (with the exception of registered Bed and Breakfasts (B&Bs) but not AirBnBs).
Payment amount
If your business is eligible, during this period you'll receive a single grant to cover the four weeks. See below the payment amounts:
| Rateable value of your property | Total payment for 4 week period |
|---|---|
| Less than £15,000 | £1,334 |
| More than £15,000 and less than £51,000 | £2,000 |
| More than £51,000 | £3,000 |
If your business is not the registered occupier of a rated premises, for example you are in a shared space, but you've still been required to close as a result of the national lockdown, you can still apply for these grants if you meet the other eligibility criteria that applies.
Businesses not allowed to re-open since 23 March
Also called Local Restriction Support Grant (Sector)
If your business has not been allowed to re-open since March (for example nightclubs), you will be eligible to claim a grant of up to £3,000 for every 4 week period that it's closed. This starts from 1 November 2020 and it is not possible to backdate payments before this date.
Grants are taxed and subject to State Aid restrictions
All grants paid are taxable and subject to restrictions in terms of State Aid and you will be required to confirm that receipt of any grant would not contravene State Aid limits.
Business support programmes
For information about business support programmes available in County Durham, please see Business Durham: Covid recovery for businesses or see their Business Durham Covid-19 business support brochure. For tourism businesses, further information is available on Visit County Durham - Covid-19 advice.
