Cash grant for closed businesses
If your business is in a sector such as non-essential retail, leisure or hospitality, and you have been forced to close as a result of the latest lockdown, you may be eligible for a one-off cash grant. The grant is available to businesses with business premises that are required to close and which cannot operate remotely. The amount of the grant depends on the rateable value of the property. Businesses with more than one property will receive a grant for each closed property.
If the rateable value of your business premises is £15,000 or less, you will receive a cash grant of £4,000. This increases to £6,000 if your business premises have a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000. If your business premises have a rateable value of more than £51,000, you will receive the maximum grant of £9,000.
On-going support payments
In addition to the one-off cash grant, you may also be entitled to on-going support from your local council. You will qualify if your business is based in England and you occupy premises on which you pay business rates, your business has been forced to close as a result of national restrictions and you are unable to provide your usual in-person customer service from your premises. This may include you if your business is in the retail, leisure, tourism or hospitality sectors, or if you provide sports facilities or personal care. You may also qualify if, for example, you run a restaurant and move to providing takeaways instead.
You will not be eligible for the on-going support payments if you can continue to operate remotely, or if you chose to close voluntarily.
Separate support measures are available for businesses in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The amount of support that you will receive depends on the rateable value of your business premises.
If your business property has a rateable value of £15,000 or less, you may be entitled to a cash grant of £2,001 for each 42-day period for which qualifying restrictions apply. The grant is increased to £3,000 for each 42-day restriction period if your property has a rateable value of more than £15,000 but less than £51.000, and to £4,500 for the same 42-day period if your rateable value is more than £51,000.
Applications for the grant should be made to your local authority.
Contact us
Contact us for help in understanding what support you are entitled to receive and how to obtain it.