Covid 19 – Business Support Grant Schemes

The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme closed on 18 March 2022.

In recognition that the rise of the Omicron variant means that some businesses are likely to struggle, the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant will support hospitality, leisure and accommodation business premises with one-off grants of up to £6,000. The following thresholds apply for these businesses:

Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value:

• of exactly £15,000 or under on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £2,667.
• over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £4,000.
• of exactly £51,000 or over on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £6,000.

You cannot get funding if:

• your business is not in the hospitality, leisure or accommodation sectors
• your business is not on the Council’s rating list as of 30 December 2021
• your business is in administration, insolvent or has been struck off the Companies House register
• your business was not trading on 30 December 2021
• you will exceed the permitted subsidy allowance

For further information as to whether your business qualifies for this grant, please see our policy.

The deadline for applications for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant is 18 March 2022. Applications must be determined by the Council by 31 March. Businesses are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and before the application deadline of 18 March 2022 to ensure that their application can be processed in time.

Test Valley Borough Council’s Additional Restrictions Grant will support the following businesses that have been severely impacted by restrictions or by the Omicron variant:

• Travel
• Travel supply chain
• Events supply chain
• Hospitality supply chain

Eligible businesses in these sectors that occupy hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value:

• of exactly £15,000 or under on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £2,667.
• over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £4,000.
• of exactly £51,000 or over on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £6,000.

On 4 March 2022, the Council expanded the scheme to also support the following businesses that have been severely impacted by restrictions or by the Omicron variant:

• Gyms and sports businesses
• Personal care businesses

Eligible businesses in these sectors that occupy hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value:

• of exactly £15,000 or under on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £1,333.
• over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £2,000.
• of exactly £51,000 or over on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £3,000.

You cannot get funding if:

• your business is not in the gym/sports, personal care or travel sectors, or in the supply chain for travel, events or hospitality
• your business is not on the Council’s rating list as of 30 December 2021
• your business was not trading on 30 December 2021
• your business is in administration, insolvent or has been struck off the Companies House register
• you will exceed the permitted subsidy allowance
• you are eligible to claim for the Omicron Hospitality & Leisure Grant

Gym & sports

For the purposes of this scheme, a gym & sport business is 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.

Personal care

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

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.

Decisions and payments must be made by 31 March 2022. Businesses are encouraged to submit their application and provide full supporting evidence by 18 March 2022. Applications received after this date may not be processed and grants not paid.