COVID: More financial support available for businesses during lockdown

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Press Release

Published on 1 February 2021
Archived on 1 March 2021


The Government announced a new support scheme for businesses which were required to close due to the national lockdown restrictions introduced on 6 January 2021.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council will start making payments for this scheme this week from Monday 1 February.

Businesses that have applied for any recent business grants from the District Council since November last year, do NOT need to complete another application form.

The District Council will make an automatic payment to these businesses using previously submitted details and this top-up payment will be credited to the bank account already provided.

If you have NOT previously applied for any form of grant funding since November, please complete the application form on our website.

To qualify for one of these top-up grants, businesses must have occupied a property listed as liable for national non-domestic rates and have been instructed to close in line with the current restrictions from 6 January, even if able to open for delivery or takeaway services.

The new scheme, based on the rateable value of a closed business's premises, is as follows:

  • £4,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or less;
  • £6,000 for businesses with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000; and
  • £9,000 for businesses with a rateable value of over £51,000.

This funding comes in addition to the existing Government business support schemes, including grants of up to £3,000 a month for closed businesses.

The grants, which do not need to be repaid by businesses, are part of a wider package of support measures put in place to help struggling businesses.

Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors have also been eligible for a 100 per cent business rates discount since 1 April 2020. The relief applies until 31 March 2021.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) also continues until the end of April 2021.  Under the latest extension, workers will continue to receive payments equal to 80 per of their wage, while employers will only be required to pay wages, National Insurance Contributions (NICS) and pensions for hours worked, and NICS and pensions for hours not worked.

Cllr Jo Barker, People Portfolio Holder says: "This further financial support will continue to help businesses in the months ahead to help sustain jobs, so businesses can be ready to return when they are able to reopen.

"Payments will start to be made to businesses, which we know were closed during November and December, this week so there is no need to reapply if you have already applied for a grant. If you haven't already applied, please do so as soon as possible."

For any further information on these grants please read the Policy on our website - Local Restrictions Support & Lockdown Grants 

The District Council has now paid £6,028,037.13 covering 3,053 grants to businesses. The District Council is currently administering nine grant schemes from central government as part of its COVID-19 support for businesses. For more information please visit: Local Restrictions Support & Lockdown Grants 


Contact details

Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Elizabeth House, Church Street,
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire,
CV37 6HX
Tel: 01789 267575

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Last updated on 01/02/2021