On 19 March 2021 the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy published the “Check if you’re eligible for a coronavirus Restart Grant (grants available from 1 April 2021)” guidance.
The Restart Grant scheme supports businesses in reopening safely as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Grants will be available from 1 April 2021 but you can submit applications in advance.
Eligible businesses in the non-essential retail sector may be entitled to a one-off cash grant of up to £6,000 from their local council.
Eligible businesses in the hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym sectors may be entitled to a one-off cash grant of up to £18,000 from their local council.
The guidance can be accessed here.
VAL has contacted the local councils to ascertain how the grants will be administered. Leicester City Council envisaged that they will pay the grants automatically to businesses already receiving lockdown grants.
The grant amounts are expected to be:
Non-essential retail properties:
- Rateable value of £15,000 or less: a grant of £2,667
- Rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000: a grant of £4,000
- Rateable value of £51,000 or above: a grant of £6,000
Hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym properties:
- Rateable value of £15,000 or less: a grant of £8,000
- Rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000: a grant of £12,000
- Rateable value of £51,000 or above: a grant of £18,000
Once the automatic payments have been made, Leicester City Council, who are administering the funding for Leicester city based businesses, will open an application process for any other eligible businesses. Further details of the grant scheme can be found here.
For county based organisations, these grant will be managed by local district and borough councils.
We recommend those organisations check the website of the district/borough council in your local area.