The Government are providing cash grants to some small and medium-sized businesses affected by Coronavirus.
Does my business qualify for a grant?
Businesses based in England in the retail, leisure and hospitality sector whose premises have a rateable value between £15,001 and £51,000 will get a grant of £25,000. This doesn’t have to be repaid.
Businesses (in any sector) that qualify for Small Business Rate Relief will get a grant of £10,000 which doesn’t have to be repaid. Businesses on Rural Rate Relief also qualify. Generally speaking, you qualify for small business rate relief if your business premises has a rateable value under £15,000.
If you’re unsure whether you qualify, check your rate bills for the rateable value, or find your property’s rateable value online.
Your business must be based in England and occupy a property to qualify for this grant, but similar grants have been announced for businesses in Scotland.
How do I claim my cash grant?
If you qualify for a grant, your local authority should write to you or email you with details of how to claim, so keep an eye out for post and emails to the address where you usually receive your rates bill. Some councils have online forms that you can use to claim your grant.
Here’s how to claim your grant from the councils local to us, including links to online forms where available.
Sefton Council
Use this link to make a claim online. You’ll need your rates bill.
Liverpool Council
Liverpool also have a link for making a claim online. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the green “Apply now” button. You’ll need the details on your rates bill.
St Helens Council
St Helens say they have written to relevant local businesses requesting information to help pay this grant. You should have received this form around 21 March at the address your rates bills are usually sent to.
If you haven’t received it, email businessrates@sthelens.gov.uk using the subject ‘COVID-19’. You’ll need to include your business name, address, account number and contact details. They say they’ll confirm your subsidy in writing or by email before paying. We expect the first payments to be made during the week commencing 6 April 2020.
West Lancs Council
West Lancs have said that they’ll send a claim form to all businesses who are eligible for grants by post and/or email before Friday 3 April.
If you’ve not heard from them by 3 April, email businesssupport@westlancs.gov.uk with as much information about your business as possible. This must include your Property Reference Number and Business Rates Account Number. You can find these on your council tax bill.
Wirral Council
Use Wirral’s online portal for grant applications.
Cheshire West and Chester
Use Cheshire West and Chester’s online grant form.
Knowsley Council
Go to Knowsley’s Coronavirus finanical support page, then scroll down and click the big green “Apply for a Coronavirus COVID-19 business grant”. (We haven’t included a direct link because it seems to take you round in circles.)
Other councils should be sending letters or setting up online systems. You can contact your local authority to check what you’re eligible for and when you might receive the money.
Is any other help available?
Yes! Visit our main Coronavirus Business Support post for a summary of what help is available and how we can help you.
