Restrictions Business Fund Extension
25 January - end of March 2021
Following the First Minister’s announcement, the Restrictions Business Fund Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) for non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism (NERHLT) sectors has been extended to provide a single top up payment for businesses affected by national restrictions. Discretionary based grants for the period to end of March 2021 will also be available through application via local authorities.
Restrictions Business Fund Top up:
Businesses Eligible for the Extended Restrictions Business Fund will receive the following top up:
NERHLT businesses in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) and with a rateable value of £12,000 or less will be eligible for an additional £3,000 payment. Supply chain businesses qualifying for SBRR will also be eligible for this support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.
NERHLT businesses with a rateable value of between £12,001 and £51,000 will also be eligible for a £5,000 payment if impacted by the restrictions. Supply chain businesses in the same rateable value bracket will also be eligible for this support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.
NERHLT businesses with a rateable value of between £51,001 up to £150k who registered and received the ERF Restriction Fund Grant in December/January via their Local Authority will begin receiving payments into their bank account during February. These businesses will not be required to re-register their details
NERHLT businesses with a rateable value of between £150,001 and £500,000 will now be able to register for a one-off £5,000 payment if impacted by the restrictions. Supply chain businesses in the same rateable value bracket will also be eligible for this support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.
If you are eligible for the payments and haven’t received the grant to date please register via your local authority's website.
To support businesses who are not registered on the NDR register and with a turnover below £50k, a further £30m phase of the Local Discretionary Fund has also been approved and will provide a £2,000 grant. Businesses will need to submit an application to the fund.
How to access the Fund: Non Domestic Rates Businesses
Businesses must be on the non-domestic rates (NDR) rating list for their local authority on 1 September 2020.
Businesses who received the Restrictions Business Grant in December via their Local Authority will begin receiving payments via the Restrictions Business Fund into their bank account during February. These businesses will not be required to re-register their details.
So far, we have paid approx. 1,100 people for phase 1 of the grant. Therefore, these same people will be eligible for phase 2 of the grant and they will not have to make a fresh application. The only people who will have to apply afresh, are those who have not received the previous grant.
We are waiting for Welsh Government to provide us with the funds to make payment, but we anticipate the majority of people will be paid by 20 February 2021.
Business will be able to access the registration and application forms via:
Local Discretionary Grant
To support businesses who are not registered on the NDR register and with a turnover below £50k, a further £30m phase of the Local Discretionary Fund has also been approved and will provide a £2,000 grant. Businesses will need to submit an application to the fund.
We anticipate opening the application portal next Thursday 11th February.
This will provide support to sub VAT sole traders without a property who are materially impacted (>40% reduced turnover) as a result of the restrictions, e.g. cleaners providing services to the hospitality industry.
You are not eligible for the Discretionary grant if:
You are eligible for, or have received a Non-Domestic Rate Grant from your Local Authority.
You have 50 or more employees.
The business generated less than 50% of your income, the business must be your main source of income.
Applications to the Local Discretionary Grant will be dealt with on a first come first served basis. This may lead to applications not being appraised after they have been submitted if the fund is fully committed.
As mentioned above, we anticipate opening the application portal for the discretionary grant fund on Thursday 11th February and it will be accessible on the following web page – please ensure you apply for the correct fund as both the non-domestic rates and discretionary grant applications are accessible from this page.
Full information on these grants and other funding support can be found on the Business Wales Covid Support page:
FREELANCER PAYMENTS
Welsh Government is proposing to make an additional payment of £2,500 to eligible freelancers who were approved through phases 1-3. This will be done via an automatic payment.
Any freelancer who has received any discretionary funding after their freelancer award will be classed as ineligible for this additional payment.
Any freelancers who missed out on phases 1-3 will be advised to apply for the discretionary fund.
More information to follow as we receive it from Welsh Government.
BREXIT
Has your business been affected by BREXIT? Have you experienced delays/problems importing or exporting goods/supplies? Has this resulted in additional paperwork and/or increased costs? Please let us know in a brief email as we are collating information to inform future business support services to identify help needed by local businesses.
Email: mike.bather@wrexham.gov.uk