C19 BUSINESS NEWS UPDATE

by Rob Stokes

Published on 11th June 2020

Today we catch up with the launch of the Local Authority Discretionary grant funds in England and how you can watch videos and register for the free Government webinars to learn more about the support available to help you deal with the economic impacts of coronavirus.

The Government has been updating a lot of the support and guidance pages so please take time to read through the points below to look for anything that may affect you or your business.

APPLY FOR THE CORONAVIRUS LOCAL AUTHORITY DISCRETIONARY GRANTS FUND – ENGLAND

The Discretionary Grant Fund supports small and micro businesses that are not eligible for other grant schemes opened on the 8 June.

Small and micro businesses with fixed property costs that are not eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund may be eligible for the Discretionary Grants Scheme.

What you get;

You can get a grant of £25,000, £10,000 or any amount under £10,000.

Eligibility;

You may be eligible if your business:

• is based in England
• has relatively high ongoing fixed property-related costs
• occupies property (or part of a property) with a rateable value or annual mortgage/rent payments below £51,000
• was trading on 11 March 2020

You will need to show that your business has suffered a significant fall in income due to coronavirus.

The Government has asked local councils to prioritise businesses such as:

• small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces, such as units in industrial parks or incubators
• regular market traders
• bed and breakfasts paying council tax instead of business rates
• charity properties getting charitable business rates relief, which are not eligible for small business rates relief or rural rate relief

Local councils have discretion about how to prioritise this funding. Please check with your council for details of their scheme.

You cannot apply if your business is in administration, insolvent or has received a striking-off notice.

If you are already claiming funding;

You cannot apply if you are already claiming under another government grant scheme, such as:

• Small Business Grant Fund
• Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant
• Fisheries Response Fund
• Domestic Seafood Supply Scheme
• Zoos Support Fund
• Dairy Hardship Fund

Businesses that apply for the discretionary grants scheme can still apply for coronavirus-related loans if they are eligible.

You are still eligible if you have applied for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.

If you already get state aid;

The discretionary grants fund counts towards state aid.

Payments of £10,000 or less count towards the total de minimis state aid you are allowed to get over a 3-year period – €200,000. If you have reached that threshold, you may still be eligible for funding under the COVID-19 Temporary Framework.

Payments of £25,000 count as state aid under the COVID-19 Temporary Framework. The limit for the framework is €800,000.

Your local council will ask you to complete a declaration confirming that:

• you will not exceed the relevant state aid threshold
• you were not an ‘undertaking in difficulty’ on 31 December 2019. This applies only to the COVID-19 Temporary Framework

To find your local council see: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

Full report see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-coronavirus-local-authority-discretionary-grants-fund?utm_source=281bab0e-92ec-4a01-ab95-81f8181c1364&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

GOVERNMENT HELP AND SUPPORT IF YOUR BUSINESS IS AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

Watch videos and register for the free webinars to learn more about the support available to help you deal with the economic impacts of coronavirus.

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-and-support-if-your-business-is-affected-by-coronavirus-covid-19?utm_source=cb5adab3-5b2b-401f-94b8-78e3fd6779a7&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

CORONAVIRUS JOB RETENTION SCHEME: PEOPLE RECEIVING DIRECT PAYMENTS

How the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) can be used by direct payment holders who employ people for their care. This guidance helps people who buy care and support through a direct payment to know how and when they can use the CJRS to furlough employees during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

It includes examples of when direct payment holders may or may not choose to use the CJRS, employ people for their care.

See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-people-receiving-direct-payments?utm_source=6dc998fd-c24c-4159-b209-8c5aa1bbbde2&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate