Businesses that were not eligible for Government funding through previous COVID related financial support schemes are being invited to apply for business support funding through the discretionary grant fund, from today (Monday 1 June) until the closing date on 14 June.
The funding is designed to help small businesses which did not meet the criteria for the first round of funding which targeted Small Businesses in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure sector.
There will be a two-week window in which businesses can apply for the additional funding and as the number of applications is expected to exceed the available funding, businesses are encouraged to fill in the online form before the deadline at midnight, 14 June.
The grants do not need to be paid back and businesses that have already applied for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are eligible to apply as well as people who are eligible for the Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS).
The discretionary business grant scheme was announced by the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak in early May and is designed to support small businesses that were trading on 11 March 2020. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate the adverse financial impact of Coronavirus on their business. Grant amounts will range between £1,000 and £25,000.
The broad categories of businesses which are eligible are:
- Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces. Examples could include units in industrial parks, science parks and incubators which do not have their own business rates assessment
- Regular market traders with fixed building costs, such as rent, who do not have their own business rates assessment
- Bed & Breakfasts which pay council tax instead of business rates
- Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.
- Businesses operating in the Visitor Economy (i.e. tourism and hospitality) and the supply chain of this industry that did not qualify for the previous funding.
Cllr Gary Suttle, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and Skills, said:
“It is most welcome to see additional Government funding for businesses that have not been eligible for financial support up to now and I am heartened by this move by Government to further help businesses.
“In my council role I have encountered a number of businesses that failed to qualify for the previous grant scheme, but clearly need help and up to now I have found it distressing to be unable to offer anything other than sympathy when action is required.
“I would encourage any business owner who thinks they may be eligible for a discretionary grant to apply as soon as possible in order to meet the 14 June deadline.”
It is hoped that those businesses who have not benefitted from Government financial support already, will now do so under this additional funding. These businesses will be required to demonstrate a significant fall in income with ongoing, fixed property related costs.
Check eligibility and apply here.
Just tried to apply via the ‘Find out more details’ link above and arrived at ‘Page not Found’. Please urgently fix the link!!
Sorry about that. I’ll amend the article. The application process doesn’t go live until lunchtime.
It’s 130pm and link still says ” Page Not Found” . Please fix problem so we can appply.
Are you still having problems? Please use this link if you are https://bit.ly/306moye
Thanks, Kirstie
‘Find Out More’ link doesn’t work
It doesn’t go live until 1pm.
The form is now live https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/emergencies-severe-weather/emergencies/coronavirus/business-and-employers/coronavirus-local-authority-discretionary-fund.aspx
Link still not working at 1.30pm
Please use this link if the other one is still being a pain https://bit.ly/306moye
How long until you find out if you have been accepted?
Good morning I have already applied and have a Reference number attached my application for the discretionary business grant.
I now have more formal evidence of lost income and yet there does not seem to be any facility for adding LOST INCOME EVIDENCE to my application.
I am concerned that when it is discovered that I have not provided evidence I will become not let eligible for any grant. Would you kindly tell me how I can add this written evidence to an existing application?
Many thanks
Charlie
Let me check, bear with me while I ask the team. Kirstie
Where can I find the application form please?
The form is now live. https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/emergencies-severe-weather/emergencies/coronavirus/business-and-employers/coronavirus-local-authority-discretionary-fund.aspx
Thanks, Kirstie
hi
I have received the £10K grant thro the business rates scheme, does this mean that I do not qualify for this latest grant scheme?
Yes, unfortunately you are ineligible.
thanks for your reply
Christopher
Would be really helpful if the eligibility criteria were live now so we could see what information we need to check before applying!
It will go live at lunchtime.
Have you continued to enforce the wholly arbitrary £51,000 rateable value limit to individual public houses, hotels and restaurants which otherwise qualify as “small businesses” by the Government’s definition and pay hundreds of thousands a year in VAT, business rates and other taxes? What grants are you making available to these businesses who are major employers in Dorset?
Hello Mr Eades, please check back just after 12 and once the page is live, all the eligibility criteria will become clearer. Thank you. Kirstie
Hi Dawn, the form is now live. Thanks, Kirstie
Thanks Kirstie!
What on earth do you mean by ‘lunchtime’?
Please check back just after 12. We can’t give a specific time because it sometimes has a 20 minute lag between us making a page live and it actually being live for you. We’re aiming for between 12 and 1. Thank you, Kirstie
The form is now live. Thanks, Kirstie
The form is not live as of 12.50pm
Sill not working, says Page not Found !
Please use this link if you’re still having issues? https://bit.ly/306moye
Please use this link https://bit.ly/306moye
The time at which typically one consumes a 2nd meal of the day.
Still no aid for the small self-employed who do not pay business rates, and now can’t even afford to pay rent, or any tax, never mind pay the accountant to finish my accounts. Just waiting on the most delightful Universal credit to come up with a big fat nothing, apart from more bureaucracy.
Hi Kirsty
I am trying to check eligibility but still saying page not found
Hello I am in process of completing application and wanted to check if the estimated lost income for March to July is meant to include July income or to be based on estimated income from March to end of June?
Hi Susan, please see the policy docs attached to this webpage for advice. https://bit.ly/306moye Thanks, Kirstie
March to end of June.
Can small charities who have charity rate relief, no other grants have been applied for apply for this please?
I’m not sure Sue, please see the policy document on this page which should clarify https://bit.ly/306moye Thanks, Kirstie
Hi Kirstie
Similar problem with me.
Had failed to provide evidence of lost income. However now have email confirming.
Do I complete another application and mention the reference number of the one I have submited Please advise.
Big thanks to you Kirstie.
Charlie
Hi Charlie, I’ve asked the question. I’ll respond publicly here with the response, Kirstie
Hi Charlie,
There is no way to add more evidence via the form as it is now filed. However, if you reply direct to the email you received with the evidence attached, we can ensure it is considered along with the original e-form submission. Hope this helps. Kirstie
Hi Kirstie
We have realised that we have made some mistake on the form which we forgot to amend before submited, shall we do another application and mention the reference number of the one we have submited ??? Please advise.
I Eric, I’ll check with the team. I’ll come back to you asap. Thanks Kirstie
Thank-you very much Kirstie, really much appreciated and i will be looking forward to hear back from you.
Eric Tavernier.
He Eric, advice is to resubmit the form. The system will pick up any duplication.
Thanks
Kirstie
Hi Kirstie
Thank-you very much for the advice.
Eric.
Where can I leave additional info to my claim?
Hi
we have completed online form but it will not allow us to send our attachments please advise as we have tried on several occasions
Hello. Could you please advise what exactly constitutes “formal evidence “
Many thanks
I applied on the day the scheme went live. I saw an email to a personal address saying that confirmation would be sent out last Friday. I’m now concerned that my application was never since I never received a confirmation email to say that it had arrived. Can it be checked?
Applied for the Business Support Grant on 19th May and I have an application number.
Finally got my new rateable value after 9 months of chasing, I challenged the case on 9th April, received corrected value last week 25th June. The amount is £43,750 and is valid from 1 April 2017.
Sheffield Business Rates team are now asking me to complete a Business Rates Retail Discount Application Form. Why is that?