Business support during coronavirus

This scheme closed on 18 March 2022.

Further to the government's announcement on 21 December, guidance has now been released providing details of the new Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG). 

The OHLG is to support businesses that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed Business Rates-paying premises, within the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors.

How much funding will be provided to businesses?

Amount of grant payable related to Rateable Value

Rateable Value	Grant
£15,000 or less	£2,667
£15,001 to £51,000	£4,000
£51,001 or more	£6,000

General eligibility requirements are:

• your business must be the ratepayer of the premises on 30 December 2021
• the property must be in the rating list on 30 December 2021
• the business must have been trading on 30 December 2021
• the business must offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in the fixed business rates paying premises
• your main service must fall into one of the hospitality, leisure or accommodation sectors, detailed below

Hospitality

For the purposes of this scheme, a hospitality business can be defined as a business whose main function is to provide a venue for the consumption and sale of food and drink.

For these purposes, the definition of a hospitality business should exclude: food kiosks and businesses whose main service (generating 50% or more of income) is a takeaway (not applicable to those that have adapted to offer takeaways during periods of restrictions, in alignment with previous COVID-19 business grant schemes).

Leisure

For the purposes of this scheme, a leisure business can be defined as a business that provides opportunities, experiences and facilities, in particular for culture, recreation, entertainment, celebratory events and days and nights out.

For these purposes, the definition of a leisure business should exclude: all retail businesses, coach tour operators, and tour operators.

Accomodation

For the purposes of this scheme, an accommodation business can be defined as a business whose main lodging provision is used for holiday, travel or other purposes.

For these purposes, the definition of an accommodation business should exclude: private dwellings, education accommodation, residential homes, care homes, residential family centres and beach huts.

Exclusions

Businesses are excluded from the OHLG if they:

• are not within the business rates system
• have already received grant payments that equal the maximum permitted subsidy allowances
• are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made

Full details of the scheme are available in the guidance for local authorities [pdf].

This scheme closed on 18 March 2022.

The Government has announced a new COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) of £1.5 billion. The fund will be available to support those businesses affected by the pandemic but that are ineligible for existing support linked to business rates.

The scheme applies for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 and is subject to the following restrictions:

• the scheme is only available to properties that are ineligible for the Extended Retail Relief Scheme (businesses ineligible due to reaching cash limits are also excluded)
• only businesses occupied and liable for Business Rates on 1 April 2021 are eligible to apply for the fund
• the property must be occupied. Empty properties are not eligible
• if there is no Business Rates liability or the charge has been covered by another exemption or relief for the financial year; the business will not be eligible for this relief

Within the application process, businesses must demonstrate that they have suffered a significant loss in income because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Full guidelines for this scheme can be found within the guidance COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF): local authority guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

This scheme closed on 28 February 2022.

Known as Additional Restrictions (Discretionary) Grants - Round 7

For businesses in the Leisure and Hospitality sectors who continue to be affected but do not have commercial premises.

Other business outside the Leisure and Hospitality sectors that continue to be affected by Covid can also apply but preference will be given to Hospitality & Leisure businesses.
It is not possible to receive this grant if you are eligible for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG) or the Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF).

Further Government information can be found at Check if you're eligible for the coronavirus Additional Restrictions Grant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Our Additional Restrictions Grant policy can be viewed here:  West Sussex ARG Scheme (ARUN) January 2022 [docx] 64KB