There are a number of Government coronavirus grant support schemes designed to provide support in and out of lockdown for businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. These cover different periods of time and different situations:
New grant scheme for Stockport’s ‘large and strategic’ employers
Stockport Council has today launched the Business Grants Support scheme specifically aimed at supporting Stockport’s large and strategic employers. Grants of up to £150,000 per business are available, with applications required by 28th February 2021. Businesses will be considered if they are based in Stockport with over 50 employees and have a strategic impact on the local economy (businesses with less than 50 employees will be considered in exceptional circumstances where there is exceptional contribution demonstrated to the economic vibrancy locally). Please consider the application guidance and check the eligibility criteria on the following web page: www.stockport.gov.uk/support-scheme-for-large-strategic-employers
The support will see businesses outside of the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors become eligible for both the Stockport Additional Restrictions Grant scheme and the Local Restrictions Support Grant for Open Businesses, affecting organisations that were impacted during the lockdown from 5th November to 2nd December, and subsequent periods of lockdown. Support will be backdated to the first date of eligibility.
The discretionary schemes allow councils to support businesses that have missed out on other support as they do not have a business rates liability. Stockport Council is adding a number of sectors to those already eligible for the schemes; these are:
To be eligible for the Stockport Additional Restrictions Grant scheme bus also meet the following criteria:
The following businesses have not been eligible to receive a grant, and this continues to be the case:
Businesses will need to be able to demonstrate that they have fixed property costs and demonstrate a loss in income as a result of the pandemic.
The Council has not yet received funding for the Local Restrictions Support Grant for Open Businesses scheme for the period following the end of the lockdown on 2nd December 2020. Once confirmation of funding from central government has been received, Stockport Council will resume accepting applications and making payments.
The Council is also working on ways to make repeat payments for eligible businesses to eliminate the need to reapply. If your business has already successfully applied and received payment for either of the discretionary grant schemes, please do not reapply for additional periods of restrictions as this may delay future identification and processing of repeat payments.
Further information on the schemes will be updated on the Stockport Council website.
Local Restricted Support Grants:
You can apply for the Local Restrictions Support Grant online if your business was forced to close due to:
You should only complete the online form if you have not received a payment for the Tier 3 or national restrictions before 30 December 2020.
For full details of those businesses who are eligible or not-eligible for grant funding, visit Stockport Council’s website HERE
Update 5th January:
Following the return to lockdown / Tier 5 restrictions from 5th January 2021, the Government announced a further £4.6 billion in new lockdown grant funding support for some impacted businesses based on a per-property basis including:
*If your business has been forced to close due to Tier 4 restrictions from 31 December 2020 or due to national restrictions from 5 January 2021 you may be eligible to apply for the Local Restrictions Support Grant. Applications will open soon.
This information is based on government guidance and may be subject to change.
Local Restrictions Support Grant for closed businesses (Tier 3 – 23 October to 4 November): Businesses that were required to close from 22 October 2020 under local Tier 3 restrictions are eligible to receive funding until the start of national restrictions on 5 November 2020. Businesses must have been closed for the whole of the 2 week payment cycle to be eligible. The amount businesses receive will be based on their rateable value. It is not based on eligibility for rate reliefs, for example Small Business Rate Relief. Businesses that have a rateable value:
The payment that businesses will receive will be equivalent to the number of days that the business was closed.
Local Restrictions Support Grant for closed businesses (national restrictions – 5 November to 1 December)
Businesses that were required to close from 4 November 2020 under national restrictions are eligible to receive funding until 2 December 2020. Businesses will receive grant funding in 4 week payment cycles starting from 4 November 2020. Businesses must be closed for the whole of the 4 week payment cycle to be eligible. The amount businesses receive will be based on their rateable value. It is not based on eligibility for rate reliefs, for example Small Business Rate Relief. Businesses that have a rateable value:
Local Restrictions Support Grant for closed businesses (Tier 3 – 2 December to 30 December) Businesses that were required to remain closed from 2 December 2020 under the new Tier 3 restrictions are eligible to receive funding for each 14 day period that Tier 3 restrictions last. Businesses will receive grant funding in 2 week payment cycles starting from 2 December 2020. Businesses must be closed for the whole of the 2 week payment cycle to be eligible. The amount businesses receive will be based on their rateable value. It is not based on eligibility for rate reliefs, for example Small Business Rate Relief. Businesses that have a rateable value:
You’re responsible for letting Stockport Council know if the business’ circumstances change after 2 December 2020, or if the business becomes ineligible for the grant, for example if the business becomes insolvent. Subject to State Aid limits, businesses will be entitled to receive a grant for each eligible premises. Eligible businesses – you can find out if your business is eligible on GOV.UK.
You can apply for the Local Restrictions Support Grant online at https://www.stockport.gov.uk/start/apply-for-the-local-restrictions-support-grant.
Who will receive the funding?
The person responsible for paying Business Rates for the premises will receive the grant.
If your business is not eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant, you may be eligible for the Discretionary Grant Schemes.
The Discretionary Grant Schemes are the:
Local Restrictions Support Grant (for open businesses)
Hospitality and leisure businesses can apply for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (for open businesses) if they have been negatively impacted by the local restrictions, for example, if there’s a risk of job losses. Businesses include:
This is a discretionary grant. Your business will only be considered for the grant if it meets the required criteria. This grant is not available for loss of income to support wage or employment costs. Businesses that have a rateable value:
Apply for the Local Restrictions Support Grant
Additional Restrictions Grant
You can apply for the Additional Restrictions Grant if your business:
This is a discretionary grant. Your business will only be considered for the grant if it meets the required criteria. Eligible businesses that do not pay Business Rates will receive a fixed grant of up to £1,000 for the 28 day national restrictions period.
Businesses that supply the hospitality and leisure sectors that were not forced to close, will receive a grant. Businesses that have a rateable value:
Apply for the Additional Restrictions Grant
If you need to apply for both discretionary schemes, you’ll need to complete a separate online application for each scheme. The application form is the same for both schemes.
Information about the grant schemes, eligibility and the online application form are available at this link – Discretionary Grant Schemes – Stockport Council
Grant income received by a business is taxable. Businesses will need to include the Local Restrictions Support Grant as income on their tax return. Only businesses that make an overall profit, including grant income will be subject to tax.
If you’re self-employed, you are not eligible for the discretionary grant schemes. You can visit Stockport Council’s web page to find support if you’re self-employed.
Government update 13th January 2021:
Local Restrictions Support Grants (LRSG), Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), Christmas Support Payment (CSP) for wet-led pubs: guidance for local authorities
This is guidance for local authorities on paying grants to support businesses during the November to December 2020 national lockdown and periods of local restrictions – Business support package for the January 2021 lockdown: guidance for local authorities added.
Total visits this period:
261,985
Busiest time of the day:
12.00 – 13.00
Average dwell time:
153 mins
Average visits per day:
8,451
(Provided by March 2021 research)