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Covid-19 Business Grant Scheme now available from Shropshire Council
In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Government have announced support for small business, and businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. This support will take the form of two grant funding schemes, the Small Business Grant Fund, and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund. Only one grant will be awarded per hereditament.
Businesses which are not ratepayers in the business rates system are not included in this scheme.
Please note, if you are occupying the premises, but are not the ratepayer as addressed, please advise the business rates team at: business.rates@shropshire.gov.uk
Details of both schemes can be accessed from the Gov.UK website by following this link
Apply here – https://shropshire.gov.uk/covid-19-grants
Further information
Small Business Grant
Under the Small Business Grant Fund, all businesses in England in receipt of either Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief in the business rates system will be eligible for a payment of £10,000, providing they meet the eligibility rules given here.
To be included a business must be eligible for either relief as at 11 March 2020 and have a rateable value of £15,000 or less.
Some businesses are excluded from this scheme. They are:
- Businesses occupied for personal uses, such as private stables and loose boxes, or moorings
- Car parks and parking spaces
- Businesses that as of 11 March were in liquidation, or were dissolved are not eligible
The person who the billing authority have identified as the ratepayer in respect of the business premises on that day will be eligible for the grant.
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant
Under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant eligible businesses in England in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure) with a rateable value of less than £51,000 will be eligible for cash grants of £10,000 or £25,000 per property.
Eligible businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of up to and including £15,000 will receive a grant of £10,000.
Eligible businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a grant of £25,000.
Some businesses are excluded from this scheme. They are:
- Recipients eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund will not be eligible for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant
- Businesses occupied for personal uses, such as private stables and loose boxes, or moorings
- Car parks and parking spaces
- Businesses that as of 11 March 2020 were in liquidation, or were dissolved are not eligible
- Hereditaments with a rateable value of £51,000 or over
The person who the billing authority have identified as the ratepayer in respect of the business premises on that day will be eligible for the grant.
Post Grant Award Assurance
The Government have advised that any business caught falsifying their records to gain additional grant money will face prosecution and any funding issued will be subject to clawback. The Government expect Local Authorities to be making checks to provide grant payment assurances and the Government will support Local Authorities in carrying out post-event assurances.
State Aid
Although the United Kingdom left the EU on 31 January 2020, as part of the withdrawal agreement State Aid rules continue to apply during the transition period. For further information on state aid law please visit https://www.gov.uk/state-aid
If you have been offered Small Business Grant Fund as de minimus aid you can only receive up to 200,000 euros over a three-year period. If you have been offered Small Business Grant Fund you can only receive up to 800,000 euros under the Temporary Framework (other conditions apply).
