Further to our previous blog week regarding the Government’s announcement of business support to tackle the difficulties caused by the Omicron variant, the fund for businesses with turnover below £85,000 has now been delayed to 13th January at the earliest.
The Economic Resilience Fund is targeted at businesses in the hospitality, leisure and attraction sectors and their supply chains who have been materially impacted by a greater-than 60% reduction of turnover between 13th December 2021 and 14th February 2022 as compared to December 2019 to February 2020. If your business has a turnover above £85,000, the application process will open in the week beginning 17th January 2022 and will remain open for 2 weeks as previously discussed. See my previous email for the link to the eligibility checker.
If your business has a turnover below £85,000, the grant will be administered by local authorities and can be accessed using your local authority website (links below).
Local Authority Delivered Support – Discretionary Fund
Local authorities will deliver a discretionary fund for businesses ineligible for Non-Domestic Rate support via a short application process. Sole traders, freelancers and taxi drivers will be able to apply for £500 and businesses that employ people can apply for £2,000.
Local authorities across Wales will open applications from 17th January 2022 (this date may vary across local authorities). This grant application will remain open for 2 full weeks.
The Non-Domestic Rates fund for non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism rate-paying businesses that have a rateable property will be open for registration on 13th January 2022. Payments will be between £2,000 and £6,000, depending on the rateable value of the property.
To apply, click on the following link relevant to the district in which your business is registered to pay business rates and go to the section on Business Support Grants. Please note that some of these links may not yet have information relating to the new funding. You should check these sites regularly this week for updates:
- Anglesey: https://www.anglesey.gov.uk/en/Business/Business-support-Coronavirus-COVID-19.aspx
- Conwy: https://conwybusinesscentre.com/business-advice/
- Denbighshire: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/coronavirus/emergency-business-fund-january-2022.aspx
- Flintshire: https://www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/Resident/Council-Tax-and-Benefits-and-Grants/CORONAVIRUS-SUPPORT.aspx
- Gwynedd: https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Businesses/Help,-support-and-training/Covid-19-Business-Support.aspx
- Pembrokeshire: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/business-advice-and-support
- Wrexham: https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/service/covid-19-support-businesses
For those clients who trade in a county not listed above, please get in touch if you need any assistance on whether the grant is available from your local authority.
If you need any assistance with the application process, please do not hesitate in contacting us at J T Thomas & Co.