The LB Weekly Roundup – 19 March 2021

Thank you to those who attended our weekly roundup webinar! The recording is at the bottom of this blog 👇

The focus of today’s webinar was around the grants that can be claimed by businesses – Key points:

Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment – 31 March 2021 DEADLINE

Supports businesses that have been required to close due to the national lockdown that began 5 January 2021. Eligible businesses may be entitled to a one-off cash grant of up to £9,000 from their local council. Local councils will pay the same businesses that are eligible to receive the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum for the national lockdown period that began on 5 January.

This could include non-essential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities, tourism and hospitality businesses. It could also include businesses that operate primarily as an in-person venue, but which have been forced to close those services and provide a takeaway-only service instead.

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-your-business-is-eligible-for-the-coronavirus-closed-businesses-lockdown-payment

Local Restrictions Support Grant (for closed businesses) – 31 March 2021 (and 31 May) DEADLINE

This is for businesses that have been required to close due to temporary local restrictions. You can apply for a grant if your business is either:
• in an area of local Tier 2 or Tier 3 restrictions and has been required to close because of local restrictions that resulted in a first full day of closure on or after 9 September
• in an area of local Tier 4 restrictions and has been required to close because of local restrictions that resulted in a first full day of closure on or after 19 December

The deadlines to apply for the national lockdown LRSG (Closed) Addendum schemes are:
• National lockdown 5 November 2020 – 31 March 2021
• National lockdown, 5 January 2021: 1st, 5 January to 15 February – 31 March 2021
• National lockdown, 5 January 2021: 2nd, 16 February to 31 March – 31 May 2021

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-eligible-for-the-coronavirus-local-restrictions-support-grant-for-closed-businesses 

Local Restrictions Support Grant (for open businesses) – 31 March 2021 DEADLINE

This grant supports businesses that have been severely impacted due to temporary local restrictions. Businesses that have not had to close but which have been severely impacted due to local Tier 2 or Tier 3 restrictions may be eligible for LRSG (Open).

Eligible businesses may be entitled to a cash grant from their local council for each 14 day period under local restrictions.

Local councils have the freedom to determine the precise eligibility criteria for these grants. However, we expect the funding to be targeted at hospitality, hotel, bed & breakfast and leisure businesses.

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-eligible-for-the-coronavirus-local-restrictions-support-grant-for-open-businesses 

Nightclubs, dance halls or adult entertainment business eligibility for a coronavirus grant due to national restrictions – 31 March 2021 DEADLINE

Businesses that have been required to close due to the national restrictions introduced in March 2020, and which have not been able to re-open, may be eligible for LRSG (Sector) funding. Eligible businesses may be entitled to a cash grant from their local council for each 14-day period they are closed. This funding is available from 1 November 2020 and is not retrospective.

Eligible businesses include:
• nightclubs, dance halls, and discotheques
• adult entertainment venues and hostess bars
See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-your-nightclub-dance-hall-or-adult-entertainment-business-is-eligible-for-a-coronavirus-grant-due-to-national-restrictions 

Additional Restrictions Grant

The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) provides local councils with grant funding to support closed businesses that do not directly pay business rates as well as businesses that do not have to close but which are impacted.

Local councils can determine which businesses to target and determine the amount of funding from the ARG. Local councils have the freedom to determine the eligibility criteria for these grants.

Find your local council here: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council 

You cannot get funding if:
• your business is in administration, insolvent or has been struck off the Companies House register
• you have exceeded the permitted subsidy limit
See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-eligible-for-the-coronavirus-additional-restrictions-grant 

If you have any questions or would like to discuss any topics further, then please get in touch. You can call us on 01243 782 423, or email [email protected]. Also see our range of other resources and news updates here.

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