New Business Grants

The government is introducing a new grant scheme to support businesses that are experiencing difficulties because of the Omicron variant. Hospitality and leisure premises will benefit from targeted grant support. The Additional Restrictions Grant will also be topped up so local authorities (LAs) can continue to use their discretion to support other businesses in their area, based on local economic need.

Hospitality (defined as accommodation, food & beverage services) and leisure premises will benefit from targeted grant support. The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) will also be topped up so local authorities (LAs) can continue to use their discretion to support other businesses in their area, based on local economic need.

Nearly £700 million of targeted grants for hospitality and leisure businesses in England have been allocated for the hospitality and leisure sector.

Recipients must be solvent businesses, and ratepayers in the hospitality and leisure sector. For example, a pub; hotel; restaurant; bar; cinema; or amusement park. Grants are per premises and the amount paid is varied by rateable value (RV) of each eligible premises, in three bands: £0-15k; £15-51k; and over £51k.

Rateable value £0-15k. Value of Grant £2700.
Rateable value £15-51k. Value of Grant £4000.
Rateable value >£51k. Value of Grant £6000.

In addition, Local Authorities (LAs) in England will receive a top-up worth a total of £102 million to their Additional Restrictions Grant fund. Up to £250 million is still currently with LAs, which they will distribute.

All grants will be subject to the subsidy control allowances. The subsidy control policy will be published as part of the scheme guidance. Businesses that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made, are not eligible for funding under this scheme.

LAs are responsible and accountable for the lawful use of funds and must be satisfied that all eligibility and subsidy allowance conditions have been fully complied with when making grant payments. To do this, LAs will be expected to have pre- and post-payment assurance plans in place and undertake a Fraud Risk Assessment.

Final application and payment dates for the hospitality and leisure grants and the ARG will be confirmed in guidance published by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.

To find your local council and for their application process see:  Find your local council (https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council).

December 2021 COVID Update

December 2021 COVID Update:In view of the latest Government COVID guidelines, our staff that are able to work from home will do so with effect from Monday 13th December 2021. 

However, our Worle office remains open with a skeleton staff, and all staff can be contacted on the normal number (01934 444100). 

Our reception is open for deliveries of post, books and records.

In view of the current uncertainty regarding the Omicron COVID variant, we will be offering meetings via telephone call or Zoom video call in place of in-person meetings until the Government guidance is updated.