Coronavirus relief
Coronavirus: Advice for Businesses
For details on the Small Business Grant and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant please see our business rates relief page.
For an overview of what support and grants are available to business, including details of business rate reliefs, please see our Coronavirus advice page.
The Council has issued more information on those businesses which must close and guidance for those who need to make planning alterations or have licensing queries.
Small Business Grant Funding
A grant of £10,000 for businesses receiving Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief. The reliefs are shown on your Business Rates bill.
Details of the businesses that qualify for the grant is here: Guidance detailing which businesses qualify for this grant.
If you believe your business should have a Small Business Grant please complete this form and email your completed form to nndr@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk with ‘Small Business Grant’ in the subject title of your email.
Please note - it may take us longer than normal to respond to you as we are experiencing a large number of applications for the grant.
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Funding
A grant of £10,000 for businesses with a Rateable Value of up to £15,000 and a grant of £25,000 for businesses with a Rateable Value of between £15,001 and £50,999. The Rateable Value is shown on your business rates bill.
Details of the businesses that qualify for the grant is here: Guidance detailing which businesses qualify for this grant.
If you believe your business should have a Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant please complete this form and email your completed form to nndr@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk with ‘Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant’ in the subject title of your email.
Please note - it may take us longer than normal to respond to you as we are experiencing a large number of applications for the grant.
If you want to apply for a grant but you are not the person currently registered to pay business rates.
You must complete your grant form application and complete the Business Rates Occupation Form to send in with your grant application.
You must also enclose the following with your grant form and occupation form:
Please email your completed forms and supplementary information to nndr@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk.
In all cases, please only complete and send the forms once.
It may take us longer than normal to respond to you as we are experiencing a large number of applications for these grants.
Your questions answered
Q - Am I entitled to a grant?
Please see links above on this page which detail which businesses qualify for the grants.
Q - How will I receive my grant?
This will be paid direct into your business bank account
Q - How long will it take to process my application?
We will process your application as quickly as possible, but we have received a large number of applications in a short period of time.
Q - If my application is declined can I appeal?
If you think we have made a mistake, you should write to us or email us explaining why and we will consider our decision again.
Q - Where can I find more detailed information regarding these grants?
On the Government website https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronavirus-covid-19
Q - If I move out of the property in the next 12 months will I be expected to pay any of the grant back?
No
Q - I make one payment to my Landlord which includes rent and rates. Can I claim the Small Business Grant or Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grant?
No. Only businesses in receipt of full or partial Small Business Rates Relief or 100% Expanded Retail Relief are eligible for the grants.
Q - I have received your letter, but it is not in my name, how do I claim the grant?
The letter has been sent to the person/business who is, according to our records, occupying the property. If you have moved in and not informed the Council, the previous occupant will still be on our system. Please complete your grant application form, an occupation form and provide supplementary information to show you should have been liable for business rates (as detailed above). We will then consider your application.
Q - I have not received any correspondence but believe I am entitled to a grant, how can I claim?
You need to complete an application form, as detailed above on this page, and send it to us so that we can consider it.
Q - Can I appeal against my Rateable Value to get it reduced so that I qualify for a grant?
You can appeal if you wish. However the guidance we have received from Central Government says “Any changes to the rating list (rateable value or to the hereditament) after the 11 March 2020 including changes which have been backdated to this date should be ignored for the purposes of eligibility.” This means that even if your RV is reduced effective from a date prior to 11 March 2020, you will not be eligible for a grant.
Q - Can I get more than one grant?
Each premises can only receive one grant. If your business occupies more than one property you may be eligible for more than one grant
Q - Can I employ an agent to apply for these grants?
You can if you wish but you do not have to. If you choose to employ an agent we will only accept the application if the completed forms are signed by the ratepayer, or if a company, by an officer or employee of the ratepayer.
Q - Can the grant be made payable to a third party?
No. The grant will only be paid to the ratepayer named on our records
Q - I have more than one business. Is there a maximum amount of grant I can claim?
You can claim one grant for each premises if you are eligible.
Q - If I move into a premises after 11 March 2020 can I still claim the grant?
No, the guidance from central government makes it clear that businesses must be in occupation on 11 March 2020 to qualify for the grants.
Q - I am self-employed and work from home, do I qualify for the Small Business Rates Grant?
If you are not receiving the small business rates relief against your business rates account, then you will not qualify for this grant.
Details of other business support can be found on our coronavirus page.