Business Advice and Support Grants

 

If you have any enquiries regarding business grants please contact our dedicated advisor by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Grant availability matrix (.pdf | 500kb) (if you need this document in an accessible format please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant

On 21 December 2021, the Government announced further financial support for hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses in England, in recognition that the rise of the Omicron variant means that some businesses are likely to struggle over the coming weeks.

The support will be a one-off grant, available to eligible businesses on the Valuation Office Agency rating list as at 30th December 2021 for the financial year 2021-22.

Eligibility

To qualify for this grant, your business must:

  • Occupy a commercial property within the North East Derbyshire District Council area and be trading at that property on 30th December 2021
  • Be registered as liable for Business Rates on 30th December 2021
  • Offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed rate-paying premises in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors.
  • Hospitality definition: a business whose main function is to provide a venue for the consumption and sale of food and drink.
  • Leisure definition: a business that provides opportunities, experiences and facilities, in particular for culture, recreation, entertainment, celebratory events, days and nights out, betting and gaming
  • Accommodation definition: a business whose main lodging provision is used for holiday, travel and other purposes.

For a list of business types that fall within these definitions, please visit Annex A in the full Govt guidance.

Exclusions

  • Businesses that are not within the rating system will not be eligible to receive funding under this scheme.
  • Businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum permitted subsidy allowances will not be eligible to receive funding.
  • Businesses that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made, are not eligible for funding under this scheme.

Grant Awards

The amount of grant payable is dependent on your Rateable Value (RV) as shown in the Valuation List. Your RV is also displayed on your Business Rates bill.

  • RV of £15,000 or under - £2667
  • RV over £15,000 and less than £51,000 - £4000
  • RV of exactly £51,000 or over - £6,000

Subsidy Allowance Information

Subsidy allowance has now replaced State Aid following the end of the transition period and the UK’s exit from the EU. The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant, Restart Grant and Additional Restrictions Grant schemes are covered by three subsidy allowances:

  • Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance: you’re allowed up to £335,000 (subject to exchange rates) over any period of three years
  • COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance: you’re allowed up to £1,900,000
  • COVID-19 Business Grant Special Allowance: if you have reached your limits under the Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance and COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance, you may be able to access a further allowance of funding under these scheme rules of up to £10,000,000 provided certain conditions are met

Grants under these three allowances can be combined for a potential total allowance of up to £12,235,000 (subject to exchange rates and certain conditions being met).

Similar to previous grant schemes that were subject to State Aid regulations, businesses should keep a record of all grants received to date for Subsidy Control purposes. All grants are taxable and should be classed as business income, as per the Government guidelines on all COVID-19 business grants.

Managing the Risk of Fraud and Payments in Error

The Government will not accept deliberate manipulation and fraud. Any business caught falsifying their records to gain additional grant money will face prosecution and any funding issued will be recovered, as may any grants paid in error.

Tax Implications

Grant income received by a business is taxable. The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant will need to be included as income in the tax return of the business. Only businesses that make an overall profit once grant income is included will be subject to tax. Payments made to businesses before 5 April 2022 will fall into the 2021/22 tax year. Unincorporated businesses will be taxed when they receive the grant income.

How to Apply for the Omicron, Hospitality & Leisure Grant

If you believe you may be eligible for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant, please complete an application form. As part of the application process you are required to provide bank statements for the business to enable us to carry out the required pre-payment checks.

By accepting the grant payment, you are confirming that the business is eligible for the grant scheme. Therefore, please ensure you read the guidance fully and are satisfied of your eligibility prior to submitting an application.

Using your Personal Information

All personal information provided to us will be held in accordance with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, and will only be used for the purpose for which it was given. For information on how we use your personal data including your rights as a data subject please go to our privacy statement. 

The information that you provide on this application form may be shared with the Government Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The BEIS privacy notice that sets out how BEIS will handle personal data can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Application Closing Date

The closing date for this grant scheme is 28 February 2022. We need to have considered all applications, and made a decision by that date. Therefore you need to submit your application, including the required bank statements, as soon as possible so that we can carry out all the Government required pre-payment checks prior to making a payment. If you submit your application, or any supporting evidence, after 18 February 2022 we may not be able to carry out all the required checks by the 28 February 2022 and therefore we would be unable to make the payment. 

 In the event of a query, please contact the Revenues Section by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or alternatively telephone 01246 217600.

Update 12 January 2022

NEDDC Omicron Discretionary Grant (ODG)

North East Derbyshire District Council is currently developing its Omicron Discretionary Grant (ODG) scheme to run alongside the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG) to support similar businesses outside of the business rates system.

Details of the ODG and the application processes will be provided as soon as eligibility criteria and processes are confirmed. Please keep checking this website for updates.

Re-Opening of Hospitality from 12 April 2021

Note for successful LRSGC and ARG applicants: Automatic payments have now been made to eligible businesses:

  • LRSGC, for up to 31st March 2021
  • ARG (including ARG, ARG2 and ARG3), for up to 11th April 2021.

The grant level awarded and period it covers will be identified on your full bank statement. Further automatic payments for extended periods will be considered subject to Government guidance and you are not required to reapply.

Following the Government announcement on 22nd February 2021 of its ‘Roadmap’ to ease restrictions, the Council will apply its COVID-19 business grant eligibility criteria in reflection of the guidance outlined in the COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021. As explained in the document, timescales are subject to ongoing review based on national COVID data.

 

Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) for the period of 5 November to 2 December 2020

Open to applications, with updated guidance and expanded eligibility criteria. Applicants already awarded ARG for the period of 5 Nov to 2 Dec cannot re-apply.

Any personal services or taxi businesses unsuccessful with an ARG application submitted in 2020 will be reassessed against the new criteria and do not have to reapply.

As funding for this scheme is limited, the Council will be focusing on the following businesses for support with pro rata grants between £1,334 and £3,000 to cover the four-week national lockdown period:

  • Businesses required to close that are unable to trade but do not have a rateable value
    • non-essential retail businesses
    • hospitality, accommodation and leisure (including entertainment) businesses
    • events sector businesses
    • personal services
  • Businesses required to close that are able to trade by providing an alternative service instead
  • Businesses only open to those who have to travel for work purposes (and for a limited number of other exemptions which will be set out in law)
  • Businesses not required to close, but that are severely affected as a result of customer businesses being required to close including:
    • supply chain for retail, hospitality and leisure sectors
    • Now also eligible: taxi businesses with a registered trading address in NED District
  • Now also eligible: Tenant Landlords of Pub businesses who are not responsible for business rates on the premises.
  • Parish Councils which meet the scheme criteria (the precepting authority exclusion does not apply to this fund).

For more information please download our ARG Guidance (.pdf | 400kb) to check your eligibility before completing the ARG Online Application (opens in a new window. In exceptional circumstances where an applicant does not have internet access, a postal application form can be requested from NEDDC Customer Services on 01246 231111.

Please note, the Government has updated its link to the list of closed businesses on Gov.uk stated in the NEDDC ARG guidance and application forms and it now links to a different topic. Closing businesses for Covid-19

Further enquiries about the scheme can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Council reserves the right to vary the terms of the scheme at any time, and without notice, should it be necessary to do so.

The Council is also working through the ARG to establish additional business advice and online support seminars over the next year, so please continue to check this website for any forthcoming opportunities.

ARG2: Tier 3 period of 2 December to 30 December 2020

Open to new applications with updated guidance and expanded eligibility criteria.

Applicants who have applied for an ARG grant for the period of 5 Nov to 2 Dec will automatically be considered for the Tier 3 period of 2 Dec to 30 Dec 2020 and therefore do not need to re-apply to the ARG2. If successful, grants will be paid directly to nominated accounts.

As funding for this scheme is limited, the Council will be focusing on the following businesses for support with pro rata grants between £1,334 and £3,000 for the Tier 3 period:

  • Businesses required to close that are unable to trade but do not have a rateable value
    • Hospitality and accommodation businesses
    • entertainment businesses
    • events sector businesses
  • Businesses required to close that are able to trade by providing an alternative service instead
  • Businesses only open to those who have to travel for work purposes (and for a limited number of other exemptions which will be set out in law)
  • Businesses not required to close, but that are severely affected as a result of customer businesses being required to close including:
    • supply chain for hospitality, accommodation, entertainment and events sectors
    • taxi businesses with a registered trading address in NED District
  • Tenant Landlords of Pub businesses who are not responsible for business rates on the premises.
  • Parish Councils which meet the scheme criteria (the precepting authority exclusion does not apply to this fund).

Please note that non-essential retail, personal services and leisure and sports facility businesses are ineligible as they could open in the Tier 3 period.

For more information please download our ARG2 Guidance (.pdf | 458kb) to check your eligibility before completing the ARG2 Online Application (opens in a new window). In exceptional circumstances where an applicant does not have internet access, a postal application form can be requested from NEDDC Customer Services on 01246 231111.

Further enquiries about the scheme can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Council reserves the right to vary the terms of the scheme at any time, and without notice, should it be necessary to do so.

ARG3: Tier 4 period 31 December 2020 to 4 January 2021, and National Lockdown 5 January 2021 onwards

Open to new applications with updated guidance and expanded eligibility criteria.

Applicants who have applied for an ARG grant (for the period of 5 Nov to 2 Dec) or ARG2 grant (for the period of 02 Dec to 30 Dec) will automatically be considered for the Tier 4 period of 31 Dec to 04 Jan and National Lockdown Period of 5 Jan onwards and therefore do not need to re-apply to the ARG3. If successful, grants will be paid directly to nominated accounts.  

As funding for this scheme is limited, the Council will be focusing on the following businesses for support with pro rata grants between £667 and £1,500 per 14-day qualifying period:

  • Businesses required to close that are unable to trade but do not have a rateable value
    • non-essential retail businesses
    • hospitality, accommodation and leisure businesses
    • events sector businesses
    • personal services
  • Businesses required to close that are able to trade by providing an alternative service instead
  • Businesses only open to those who have to travel for work purposes (and for a limited number of other exemptions which will be set out in law)
  • Businesses not required to close, but that are severely affected as a result of customer businesses being required to close including:
    • supply chain for retail, hospitality and leisure (including gyms) sectors
    • taxi businesses with a registered trading address in NED District
  • Tenant Landlords of Pub businesses who are not responsible for business rates on the premises.
  • Parish Councils which meet the scheme criteria (the precepting authority exclusion does not apply to this fund).

For more information please download our ARG3 Guidance (.pdf | 459kb) to check your eligibility before completing the ARG3 Online Application (opens in a new window). In exceptional circumstances where an applicant does not have internet access, a postal application form can be requested from NEDDC Customer Services on 01246 231111.

Further enquiries about the scheme can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Council reserves the right to vary the terms of the scheme at any time, and without notice, should it be necessary to do so.

Make your workplace COVID secure

Guidance to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic has been published on the government's website (external link).

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue service have put together some information to help businesses with fire safety checks when retiring and re-opening their premises. Please view the fire safety information booklet (.pdf | 395kb).

DRG Discretionary Reopening Grant

For businesses with their own premises who are outside the business rates system to fund the costs of installing and implementing COVID-safe measures as they reopen following lockdown, to manage the safety of staff and customers whilst restrictions are still in force.

One-off grants of up to £3,000 are available for non-essential retail businesses based on number of employees. One-off grants of up to £9,000 are available for hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gyms & sport businesses based on number of employees.

The following types of businesses are NOT eligible:

  • Rent-a-chair/room personal care providers as their landlord should be covering the COVID-safe mitigations in their working space/receptions from their own grant
  • Home based businesses, including those with a separate room/salon/studio (with the exception of B&Bs)
  • Mobile personal care providers who operate from other people’s homes
  • Hirers of ad hoc operating space (e.g. village halls)
  • Supply chain businesses for retail/hospitality/leisure
  • Taxi businesses

Businesses previously in receipt of any NEDDC ARG award will be automatically considered for the Discretionary Reopening Grant and do not need to apply.

Businesses trading before 31 December 2020 are advised to submit an application to the ARG for the earliest time period they were trading.

The DRG application form is only to be completed by businesses who began trading in North East Derbyshire District from 31 December 2020 onwards.

For more information please download our DRG Guidance (.pdf | 440kb) to check your eligibility before completing the DRG Online Application (opens in a new window). In exceptional circumstances where an applicant does not have internet access, a postal application form can be requested from NEDDC Customer Services on 01246 231111.

If you have any enquiries regarding business grants please contact our dedicated advisor by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Council reserves the right to vary the terms of the scheme at any time, and without notice, should it be necessary to do so.

Useful links for businesses

Useful Links

You can find the latest information about Coronavirus (COVID-19), and get advice on symptoms, self-isolation and keeping yourself and your family healthy, at the following websites: