Latest updates for businesses affected by COVID-19

22nd January 2021

Categories: Member News

New Government guidance is now available on two coronavirus funding schemes - the Local Restrictions Support Grants (LRSG (Closed) Addendum) and the Closed Business Lockdown Payment. 

Tourism and hospitality venues in England that have been required to close, as well as 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 may be eligible for one or both of these grants. Eligible businesses must occupy property on which they pay business rates and be the ratepayer.

For those required to close due to the national restrictions beginning 5 January 2021, the Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment (CBLP) supports eligible businesses based on the rateable value of the property on the first full day of restrictions.

• Businesses with a property with a rateable value of £15,000 or less, may be eligible for a one-off cash grant of £4,000.
• Businesses with a property with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000, may be eligible for a one-off cash grant of £6,000.
• Businesses with a property with a rateable value of £51,000 or above,  may be eligible for a one-off cash grant of £9,000.

Businesses that were open as usual, but then required to close due to national restrictions imposed by government (for each period) may be eligible for the LRSG (Closed) Addendum schemes:

• From 5 January 2021 onwards
• Between 5 November and 2 December 2020

The grant will be based on the rateable value of the property on the first full day of restrictions.

For national restrictions from 5 January 2021

• Businesses with a property with a rateable value of £15,000 or less, may be eligible for a cash grant of £2,001 for each 42-day qualifying restrictions period.
• Businesses with a property with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000, may be eligible for a cash grant of £3,000 for each 42-day qualifying restrictions period.
• Businesses with a property with a rateable value of £51,000 or above, may be eligible for a cash grant of £4,500 for each 42-day qualifying restrictions period.

For National restrictions between 5 November and 2 December 2020 

• Businesses with a property with a rateable value of £15,000 or less, may be eligible for a cash grant of £1,334 for each 28-day qualifying restrictions period.
• Businesses with a property with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000, may be eligible for a cash grant of £2,000 for each 28-day qualifying restrictions period.
• Businesses with a property with a rateable value of £51,000 or above, may be eligible for a cash grant of £3,000 for each 28-day qualifying restrictions period.

The grants are administered by local councils, visit your local council’s website to find out how to apply. Find your local council website. 
 

Find out what financial support you can get. 

We’re Good to Go industry standard update

In response to feedback from businesses, Visit England and Visit Britain can confirm that they will be retaining the We're Good to Go programme for the next few months, in partnership with Visit Scotland, Visit Wales and Tourism Northern Ireland, to aid business recovery. The industry standard and supporting mark means businesses across the sector can demonstrate that they are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and check they have the required processes in place. The scheme is free to join and open to all businesses across all tourism industry sectors.

They have worked with other government departments to ensure that they alert local teams in enforcement that a business who has signed up to We’re Good to Go understands what guidance they need to follow and is receiving regular updates on the latest Government guidelines.

All those (over 40,000 across the UK) who have already signed up will receive an e-alert from them on what they need to do to up-date their entry and download a personalised certificate. The feedback from participants showed that a personalised certificate is important to businesses and our continued work on guidance up-dates, to ensure the standard is recognised widely is essential. 

If you have signed up to We’re Good to Go, please make sure you are using the standard across your marketing channels to help you further. They  are looking forward to continuing to work with you in these challenging times. Find out more about We’re Good to Go.


Visit Britian and Visit England will continue to keep you updated. In the meantime, visit our Business Advice Hub for practical guidance to help you operate in a COVID-19 Secure way during the pandemic.