Restart Grant Scheme
In the Chancellor’s recent Budget statement, he announced the pending launch of the Restart Grant Scheme. The is effectively a £5bn grant kitty aimed at retail, hospitality and leisure sector businesses to tackle the fallout of the COVID pandemic and support them until the planned reopening.
Non essential retail businesses will receive a grant worth up to £6,000 per premises whilst hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gyms, which are due to reopen at a later date than non essential retail, can apply for a grant worth up to £18,000. The exact amount will depend on the rateable value of the business.
Eligibility
Government guidance states your business must:
- Be either a non essential retail businesses or operate within the hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gyms sector
- Be based in England
- Be based on a property which pays business rates
- Have been required to close due to the national lockdown from 5th January onwards, or between 5th November and 2nd December 2020
- Been unable to provide an in person service from the related premises
You cannot apply for funding if:
- You have been able to continue to operate during the lockdown period because you do not rely on an in person service operated from your business premises
- You have taken the decision to close yourself and not due to national restrictions
- Your business is in administration, insolvent or has been struck off the Companies House register
- Your business has exceeded the permitted subsidy limit
Grant Amounts
- Non-essential retail businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or less, will receive a one-off grant of £2,667.
- Non-essential retail businesses with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000, will receive a one-off grant of £4,000.
- Non-essential retail businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or above, will receive a one-off grant of £6,000.
- Qualifying Hospitality and Leisure properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or less, will receive a one-off grant of £8,000.
- Qualifying Hospitality and Leisure properties with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000, will receive a one-off grant of £12,000.
- Qualifying Hospitality and Leisure properties with a rateable value of £51,000 or above, will receive a one-off grant of £18,000.
How to apply for the Restart Grant Scheme
Similar to other grants, businesses must contact their local council in the first instance via their website.
Below is a link to how to find your local council: