Covid 19 – Business Support Grant Schemes

We are aiming to award as many of these grants as possible automatically.

Please use the Apply Here button at the end of this information to make a claim for a new business that has not received a restart grant.

Full details of all the grants schemes can be found on the .GOV.UK Local Restrictions Support Grants page here.

On 3 March 2021, Government announced the introduction of grant support for non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses in England. See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/budget-2021-sets-path-for-recovery.  This support will take the form of a one-off grant funding scheme in Financial Year 2021-2022. The scheme is called the Restart Grant (RG)

Under the Restart Grant scheme, Local Authorities will receive funding to be allocated in one-off grants to businesses. Grants of up to £6,000 will be paid to non-essential retail business premises, to help them reopen safely. Grants of up to £18,000 will be allocated to hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym business premises, which may open later under plans set out in the roadmap and will be more impacted by restrictions when they do reopen. The Restart Grant scheme supports businesses that are predominantly reliant on delivering in-person services for the general public in the aforementioned sectors.

The Restart Grant scheme is for businesses on the ratings list only and is a one-off grant.

The Restart Grant will support non-essential retail premises with one-off grants of up to £6,000 in Strand One of the Restart Grant. Full details of grant levels are contained in the following table.

The Restart Grant will also support hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym business premises with one-off grants of up to £18,000 in Strand Two of the Restart Grant.

Details of the types of business which fall into each strand have been provided by central government. Although not exhaustive Test Valley BC will make an assessment of each business based this information where the exact type of business is not mentioned. Government have also provided details of businesses precluded from receiving support under this scheme.

Strand One: up to £6,000 per hereditament

Non-essential retail

For the purposes of this scheme, a non-essential retail business can be defined as a business that is used mainly or wholly for the purposes of retail sale or hire of goods or services by the public, where the primary purpose of products or services provided are not necessary to the health and well-being of the public.

Test Valley BC will use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses offering in-person non-essential retail to the general public.
• Businesses that were likely to have been required to cease their retail operation In the January 2021 lockdown.
• Businesses that had retail services restricted during January lockdown.
• Businesses that sell directly to consumers.

Businesses excluded based on government guidance, the definition of a non-essential retail business excludes: food retailers, including food markets, supermarkets, convenience stores, corners shops, off licences, breweries, pharmacies, chemists, newsagents, animal rescue centres and boarding facilities, building merchants, petrol stations, vehicle repair and MOT services, bicycle shops, taxi and vehicle hire businesses, education providers including tutoring services, banks, building societies and other financial providers, post offices, funeral directors, laundrettes and dry cleaners, medical practices, veterinary surgeries and pet shops, agricultural supply shops, garden centres, storage and distribution facilities, wholesalers, employment agencies and businesses, office buildings, automatic car washes and mobility support shops.

Strand Two: up to £18,000 per hereditament

Hospitality

For the purposes of this scheme, a hospitality business can be defined as a business whose main function is to provide a venue for the consumption and sale of food and drink.

Test Valley BC will use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses offering in-person food and drink services to the general public.
• Businesses that provide food and/or drink to be consumed on the premises, including outdoors.

For these purposes, the definition of a hospitality retail business will exclude: food kiosks and businesses whose main service is a takeaway (not applicable to those that have adapted to offer takeaways during periods of restrictions, in alignment with previous COVID-19 business grant schemes).

Leisure

For the purposes of this scheme, a leisure business can be defined as a business that provides opportunities, experiences and facilities, in particular for culture, recreation, entertainment, celebratory events and days and nights out.

Test Valley BC will use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses that may provide in-person intangible experiences in addition to goods.

• Businesses that may rely on seasonal labour.

• Businesses that may assume particular public safety responsibilities.

• Businesses that may operate with irregular hours through day, night and weekends.

For these purposes, the definition of a leisure business excludes: all retail businesses, coach tour operators, tour operators and telescopes.

Accommodation

For the purposes of this scheme, an accommodation business can be defined as a business whose main lodging provision is used for holiday, travel and other purposes.

Test Valley BC will use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses that provide accommodation for ‘away from home’ stays for work or leisure purposes.
• Businesses that provide accommodation for short-term leisure and holiday purposes.

For these purposes, the definition of an accommodation business excludes: private dwellings, education accommodation, residential homes, care homes, residential family centres, beach huts.

Gym & sports

For the purposes of this scheme, a gym & sport business can be defined as a commercial or non-profit establishment where physical exercise or training is conducted on an individual basis or group basis, using exercise equipment or open floor space with or without instruction, or where individual and group sporting, athletic and physical activities are participated in competitively or recreationally.

Test Valley will use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses that offer in-person exercise and sport activities to the general public.
• Businesses that open to members of the public paying an entry or membership fee.
• Businesses that require extensive cleaning protocols, which significantly slow down trade.
• Businesses that offer exercise classes or activities, which may mandate space and no masks etc.

For these purposes, the definition of a gym & sport business excludes: home gyms, home exercise studios, home sports courts and home sports grounds.

Personal care

For the purposes of this scheme, a personal care business can be defined as a business which provides a service, treatment or activity for the purposes of personal beauty, hair, grooming, body care and aesthetics, and wellbeing.

Test Valley BC will use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses that deliver in-person holistic, beauty and hair treatments.
• Businesses that provide services such as tattoos and piercings.
• Businesses that offer close-contact services, which are required to deliver the treatment.
• Businesses that offer services, treatments or activities that require social distancing and cleaning protocols, which have led to a reduction in their capacity to deliver personal care services.

For these purposes, the definition of a personal care business excludes: businesses that only provide personal care goods, rather than services; businesses used solely as training centres for staff, apprentices and others; businesses providing dental services, opticians, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or health services, including services which incorporate personal care services, treatments required by those with disabilities and services relating to mental health.

Exclusions to Restart Grant funding

The exclusions included above are not intended to be exhaustive and it will be for Test Valley BC to determine those cases where eligibility is unclear. The council has a good understanding of the licensed premises in their areas and will be readily able to form a view on eligibility.

• Businesses that are not within the ratings system will not be eligible to receive funding under this scheme.
• Businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum permitted subsidy allowances will not be eligible to receive funding.
• Businesses that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made, are not eligible for funding under this scheme.

The scheme will run from 1^st April and will provide a one-off payment to businesses in clearly defined sectors that continue to be affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. No further payments beyond this will be made under Test Valley BC ARG scheme unless additional Government funding is received.

We are aiming to award as many of these grants as possible automatically.

Please use the Apply Here button at the end of this information to make a claim for a new business that has not received an ARG payment from 1 April 2020. 

TVBC’s Additional Restrictions Grant scheme will provide support to the following businesses:-

Businesses in the Travel, Events and Early Years Learning sectors including supply chain that have not been forced to close but whose turnover has been materially affected by the closure of their direct customer base. In addition businesses in the Hospitality Supply chain (Including Launderettes/Dry Cleaners).

Businesses that are not subject to business rates are not eligible under this scheme. Previous schemes have made provision for these businesses.

Businesses will not receive a payment under this scheme if they qualify for a restart grant payment

In exceptional circumstances grants may be awarded where a business may have missed out under a previous grant scheme through no fault of their own. Any award would mirror the previous scheme eligibility

The scheme is not intended as an income replacement scheme, payments will only be made whilst funds provided by central government remain.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS 30 JUNE

Existing qualifying businesses will be contacted directly. New applications can be made using the following link