More than 1,600 businesses across Bath and North East Somerset forced to close because of the current national Covid-19 restrictions are in line for thousands of pounds in government grants.
Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES) has emailed all businesses that previously received discretionary grants during November’s national lockdown to let them know they can now apply for more financial support.
The council estimates that hundreds of local businesses have had to temporarily cease operations as a result of the current national lockdown.
Now businesses that were given Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum in the last lockdown are being urged to renew their applications.
Council deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, Richard Samuel, said: “It’s really important that we help businesses weather this third lockdown by processing applications for financial support quickly.”
He said if the information these businesses provided hadn’t changed, simply renewing the application rather than submitting a new one would help the council speed up the process of getting the grant to them.
“If you have not applied for a grant before and you think you may be eligible, please apply as soon as possible,” he added.
“If you would like some help and advice with your application, then contact our Invest in Bath team.”
Businesses should only make a new application if they have not previously applied for the grant.
New applications can be made online from 4pm today (Friday 22 January) at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-information-and-advice/help-businesses
The LRSG (Closed) Addendum payment is designed to support businesses that were open as usual and providing services to customers in person from their premises but were then required to close as a result of the lockdown imposed on January 5.
The grant is for businesses in the following sectors that pay business rates on their premises:
- Non-essential retail
- Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities
- Entertainment venues
- Personal care services
- Hospitality venues, such as restaurants, bars and pubs
- Hotels, hostels and B&Bs.
Qualifying businesses will receive an LRSG(C)A payment together with a Closed Business Lockdown Payment for each property liable for business rates from January 5 to February 15.
Properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or under will receive £2,001 LRSG(C)A and £4,000 Closed Business Lockdown Payment
Those with a rateable value of between £15,001 and £50,999 will receive £3,000 LRSG(C)A and £6,000 Closed Business Lockdown Payment
Properties will a rateable value of £51,000 or over will receive £4,500 LRSG(C)A and £9,000 Closed Business Lockdown Payment
Discretionary grants are also available for businesses that are open but have been severely impacted by the restrictions. Businesses that are mandated to close but are not registered for business rates may also be eligible.
One of the following must also apply:
- You are not a business rate payer of the premises you trade from, or occupy, and are required to close (this includes businesses registered for council tax)
- Your business is not required to close and has closed due to a significant impact on trading (this applies to both businesses registered for business rates and those not registered)
- Your business is continuing to operate, but with significantly reduced demand due to social distancing rules (this applies to both businesses registered for business rates and those not registered).
The amount of discretionary grant awarded will depend on the size of the workforce or the rateable value of the premises.
For more information on the LRSG(C)A grants and eligibility criteria, visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support
For more information about the range of support and advice available to local businesses visit www.investinbath.co.uk
Find all council services updates at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/coronavirus
