The government has announced a Discretionary Business Grant Fund to be targeted at small businesses that have high fixed property related costs but are not eligible for the current Small Business Grant Fund or Extended Retail Relief Grant Fund. Local authorities have been granted the funds and given discretion to distribute according to individual needs.

 

Who is eligible?

Please read the full policy document (below) before applying to see if you are eligible. However, eligible businesses must:

  • have been trading on the 11th March 2020
  • be paying at least £2,400 total property costs for a calendar year for their business premises to qualify to apply for a grant. Annual property cost will include, rent, mortgage payments, and rates.
  • have not have been eligible or received a grant from the existing Covid grant schemes or other support schemes (excluding the Self-employed Income Support Scheme).

In addition to the eligibility criteria, the Government has outlined that the grants are primarily and predominantly aimed at the following businesses:

  • Small or Micro businesses
  • Businesses with relatively high ongoing fixed property-related costs.
  • Businesses which can demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the COVID-19 crisis.
  • Businesses which occupy property, or part of a property, with a rateable value or annual rent or annual mortgage payments below £51,000(where a rateable value exists this will be the figure used).

 

How much will I receive?

Payments are graduated according to need and the size of the business. See the policy document for more information. This will take into account:

Annual property costs
Number of employees at 11 March 2020
Loss of income

 

More information

We would encourage you to contact your local authority but please follow the links below for further detail specific to Eden and Allerdale district councils:

Eden:

https://www.eden.gov.uk/media/5747/edc_discretionary_business_grant_fund_draft_policy_v3_seiss_amend.pdf

Allerdale:

https://www-cloudfront.allerdale.gov.uk/media/filer_public/1d/3d/1d3d9c4e-92ef-497b-bbe1-5c579761bfc6/new_guidance_for_applications_to_allerdale_borough_for_local_authority_discretionary_grants_fund.pdf