New Covid support grants for Swindon businesses

by Jon Lacey

Published on 18th November 2020

The Government has announced further support for businesses impacted by the national Covid restrictions. In Swindon, both are being administered by Swindon Borough Council.

Local Restrictions Support Grants (LRSGs)

This grant covers the second lockdown i.e. the 28-day period from 5 November to 2 December 2020 and is only available to businesses which were mandated to close under the national restrictions.

Qualification criteria include:

• Businesses must have been actively trading on 4 November 2020
• Businesses must have a live business rates account with Swindon Borough Council (even if a rate relief has been agreed)
• Businesses which have been mandated to close but still able to trade in other, safe ways (for example, offering click and collect or takeaway) can still apply
• Applicants must not have already received grant payments that equal the maximum levels of State Aid permitted under the de minimis and the COVID-19 Temporary State Aid Framework
• Businesses must meet other basic criteria (regarding no insolvency etc.) which will be outline in a simple application form

Businesses can apply for an LRSG grant for each eligible trading property. The rateable value on Valuation Office and council records on 4 November 2020 will be used to determine the payment received. Mandatory grant values are:

• £1,334 for properties with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under
• £2,000 for properties with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000
• £3,000 for properties with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or above

Some eligible businesses will have been contacted by Swindon Council but direct applications can be made via an online form. More information and access to the application for is available here. Applications must be made by 2 December 2020.

Additional Restrictions Grants (ARGs)

This is available to businesses that are not eligible for the LRSGs, but which have still been impacted by the national Covid restrictions

This will include small businesses which do not have a live business rates account because they work from home or rent from a landlord who pays the rates.

Eligible applicants may receive a fixed grant of £1,000 for the period from 5 November to 2 December 2020.

Eligible applicants will receive one grant per business, irrespective of how many properties they operate. However, a business which operates a property that is eligible for a LRSG and a separate property which is eligible for an ARG can apply for each scheme.

Qualification criteria include:

• Businesses must have been actively trading on 4 November 2020
• Applicants must not have already received grant payments that equal the maximum levels of State Aid permitted under the de minimis and the COVID-19 Temporary State Aid Framework
• Businesses must meet other basic criteria (regarding no insolvency etc.) which will be outlined in the simple application form

More informationand an application form is available here. ARG applications close at 5pm on 11 December 2020.

If you run a business in the Swindon, Wiltshire or Gloucestershire area, and would like to talk to Optimum about Covid-related support that might be available, or if you need any other business advice, please get in touch with our team.