Closed Covid-19 Business Support Grant schemes

Grants are available for businesses who are registered to pay business rates under the national scheme and those who are NOT registered for business rates under the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme. Please note that depending on whether your business is registered to pay business rates or not, different eligibility criteria apply. Please see the relevant eligibility criteria below.

Rate paying businesses

In order to be eligible to a Restart Grant a business must:

• be the ratepayer on the Billing Authorities records of the property on 1 April 2021
• have been trading on 1 April 2021 (purposes of this grant scheme, a business is considered to be trading if it is engaged in business activity. This should be interpreted as carrying on a trade or profession, or buying and selling goods or services in order to generate turnover. Fully constituted businesses in liquidation, dissolved, struck off or subject to a striking-off notice are not eligible under these conditions)
• offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed rate-paying premises, in the relevant sectors.
• be within the under the non-essential retail sector, or under the hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym business sector, as set out in the government's guidance. Please see the following definitions and exclusions listed below.

Businesses NOT registered to pay business rates

In order to be eligible to a ARG Restart Grant a business must:

• not be a business rates payer, 
• have been trading on 1 April 2021 (purposes of this grant scheme, a business is considered to be trading if it is engaged in business activity. This should be interpreted as carrying on a trade or profession, or buying and selling goods or services in order to generate turnover. Fully constituted businesses in liquidation, dissolved, struck off or subject to a striking-off notice are not eligible under these conditions)
• offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed rate-paying premises, in the relevant sectors.
• be able to evidence ongoing fixed property related costs. Fixed property costs can include, rent or a mortgage for the business property and other costs, such as fees for the hire of premises. Please note, that costs associated with businesses operating from from a domestic property, or mobile business, are not eligible under this scheme.
• be within the under the non-essential retail sector, or under the hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym business sector, as set out in the government's guidance. Please see the following definitions and exclusions listed below.

For the purposes of this scheme, a non-essential retail business can be defined as a business that is used mainly or wholly for the purposes of retail sale or hire of goods or services by the public, where the primary purpose of products or services provided are not necessary to the health and well-being of the public.

We will use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold: 

• Businesses offering in-person non-essential retail to the general public.
• Businesses that were likely to have been required to cease their retail operation in the January 2021 lockdown.
• Businesses that had retail services restricted during January lockdown.
• Businesses that sell directly to consumers.

Exclusions

For these purposes, the definition of a non-essential retail business should exclude:

food retailers, including food markets, supermarkets, convenience stores, corners shops, off licences, breweries, pharmacies, chemists, newsagents, animal rescue centres and boarding facilities, building merchants, petrol stations, vehicle repair and MOT services, bicycle shops, taxi and vehicle hire businesses, education providers including tutoring services, banks, building societies and other financial providers, post offices, funeral directors, laundrettes and dry cleaners, medical practices, veterinary surgeries and pet shops, agricultural supply shops, garden centres, storage and distribution facilities, wholesalers, employment agencies and businesses, office buildings, automatic car washes and mobility support shops.

For the purposes of this scheme, a hospitality business can be defined as a business whose main function is to provide a venue for the consumption and sale of food and drink.

We will use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses offering in-person food and drink services to the general public.

• Businesses that provide food and/or drink to be consumed on the premises, including outdoors.

Exclusions

For these purposes, the definition of a hospitality retail business should exclude:

food kiosks and businesses whose main service is a takeaway (not applicable to those that have adapted to offer takeaways during periods of restrictions, in alignment with previous COVID-19 business grant schemes).

For the purposes of this scheme, an accommodation business can be defined as a business whose main lodging provision is used for holiday, travel and other purposes.

We will use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses that provide accommodation for ‘away from home’ stays for work or leisure purposes. 
• Businesses that provide accommodation for short-term leisure and holiday purposes.

Exclusions

For these purposes, the definition of an accommodation business should exclude:

private dwellings, education accommodation, residential homes, care homes, residential family centres, beach huts.

For the purposes of this scheme, a leisure business can be defined as a business that provides opportunities, experiences and facilities, in particular for culture, recreation, entertainment, celebratory events and days and nights out.

We will use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses that may provide in-person intangible experiences in addition to goods. 
• Businesses that may rely on seasonal labour.
• Businesses that may assume particular public safety responsibilities.
• Businesses that may operate with irregular hours through day, night and weekends.

Exclusions 

For these purposes, the definition of a leisure business should exclude:

all retail businesses, coach tour operators, tour operators and telescopes.

For the purposes of this scheme, a personal care business can be defined as a business which provides a service, treatment or activity for the purposes of personal beauty, hair, grooming, body care and aesthetics, and wellbeing.

We will use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses that deliver in-person holistic, beauty and hair treatments.
• Businesses that provide services such as tattoos and piercings.
• Businesses that offer close-contact services, which are required to deliver the treatment. 
• Businesses that offer services, treatments or activities that require social distancing and cleaning protocols, which have led to a reduction in their capacity to deliver personal care services.

Exclusions

For these purposes, the definition of a personal care business should exclude:

businesses that only provide personal care goods, rather than services; businesses used solely as training centres for staff, apprentices and others; businesses providing dental services, opticians, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or health services, including services which incorporate personal care services, treatments required by those with disabilities and services relating to mental health.

For the purposes of this scheme, a gym & sport business can be defined as a commercial or non-profit establishment where physical exercise or training is conducted on an individual basis or group basis, using exercise equipment or open floor space with or without instruction, or where individual and group sporting, athletic and physical activities are participated in competitively or recreationally.

We will use the following criteria to assess whether a business is eligible for a grant under this threshold:

• Businesses that offer in-person exercise and sport activities to the general public. 
• Businesses that open to members of the public paying an entry or membership fee. 
• Businesses that require extensive cleaning protocols, which significantly slow down trade. 
• Businesses that offer exercise classes or activities, which may mandate space and no masks etc.

Exclusions

For these purposes, the definition of a gym & sport business should exclude:

home gyms, home exercise studios, home sports courts and home sports grounds.

For examples of eligible business types under each category, please check the following document:

Annex C - Business categories for the Restart Grant

Download (310KB - PDF)

General exclusions to this scheme include:

• Businesses which do not fall within the eligible sectors and thresholds.
• Businesses that are not within the ratings system will not be eligible to receive funding under the national rate paying business scheme. However, depending on their circumstances they may be eligible under the ARG Restart scheme for businesses not registered for business rates.
• 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.
• Any changes to the rating list (rateable value or to the property) after 1 April 2021 should be ignored for the purposes of eligibility. Local Authorities are not required to adjust, pay or recover grants where the rating list is subsequently amended retrospectively to 1 April 2021.

Rate paying businesses

If eligible, rate paying businesses within the non essential retail sector will be paid at the following rates: 

If eligible, rate paying businesses within the hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym business sectors will be paid at the following rates:

Before submitting an application, please check:

• You have not automatically been awarded a Restart Grant. If you have already received grants from us under the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) or the Additional Restrictions Support Grant (ARG) schemes, this is very likely.
• If are a business rates payer. You must have a business rates account number to submit an application. If you are not registered for business rates, you will need to be able to evidence fixed property related costs. Please note, that costs associated with operations from from a domestic property, or mobile business, are not eligible under this scheme.
• That you meet the eligibility criteria above, and that none of the exclusions apply to your business.
• Please do not submit repeat or speculative applications.
• This scheme closed to new applications on 30 June 2021. If you have applied before the closing date and have still not received a decision notice, your application will still be considered, with all eligible payments made before 31 July 2021.

Closing date: This scheme closed to applications on 31 May 2021

Eligibility criteria

The Government has announced that funding to help support businesses that are required to close due to the restrictions being put in place on 5 January 2021, will remain available for the period 16 February 2021 to 31 March 2021 only.

In order to be eligible for a grant payment under the LRSG (closed businesses) scheme, a business must:

• Be registered as the business rates payer to Doncaster Council, for a property entered on the non-domestic rating list.
• Must have been open as usual, and providing in-person services to customers from their business premises, then required to close for a consecutive period of no less than two weeks as a result of regulations made under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984. 
• Have been trading the day before local restrictions came into force to be eligible to receive funding under this scheme. 
• Have been forced to close due to local lock down restrictions

and from 5 Janaury 2021, fall under one of the following business types :

• Non-essential retail, such as clothing and homeware stores, vehicle showrooms (other than for rental), betting shops, tailors, tobacco and vape shops, electronic goods and mobile phone shops, and market stalls selling non-essential goods. These venues can continue to be able to operate click-and-collect (where goods are pre-ordered and collected off the premises) and delivery services. 
• Hospitality venues, such as cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and social clubs.
• Leisure and sports facilities, such as leisure centres and gyms, swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, golf courses, fitness and dance studios, climbing walls, archery, driving, and shooting ranges. 
• Accommodation, such as hotels, hostels, guest houses and campsites.
• Entertainment venues, such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, casinos, amusement arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, go-karting venues, soft play centres and areas, circuses, funfairs, zoos and other animal attractions, water parks, theme parks. 
• Personal care facilities, such as hair, beauty, tanning and nail salons, tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body and skin piercing services. 
• Community centres and halls.

Businesses that are able to continue to trade because they do not depend on providing direct in-person services from premises and can operate their services effectively remotely (e.g. accountants, solicitors) are not eligible under this scheme.

Find out if your business is required to close on the Covid-19 pages of the .Gov.uk website .

The following exclusions apply:

• Business properties which are empty are excluded from this scheme.
• Takeaway businesses are considered essential retail, and are therefore not required to close under national lock down. Such businesses are not eligible to support under this scheme.
• Businesses in areas outside the scope of the restrictions, as defined by Government, are not eligible for this grant.
• Businesses that have chosen to close but not been required to are not eligible for this grant.
• Businesses which have already received grant payments that equal the maximum levels of State aid permitted under the de-minimis and the Covid-19 Temporary State Aid Framework are not eligible for this grant.
• Businesses that were in administration, are insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made at the date of the local lockdown are not eligible for this grant.

In cases where it was factually clear to us that on the local lock down date that the non-domestic rating list was inaccurate on that date, we may withhold the grant and/or award the grant based on our view of who would have been entitled to the grant had the list been accurate. The decision to award or withhold a grant payment is entirely at the discretion of Doncaster Council. 

Any changes to the rating list (rateable value or to the hereditament) after the first full day of localised restrictions and business closures regulations came into force including changes which have been backdated to this date, are to be ignored for the purposes of eligibility. Local Authorities are not required to adjust, pay or recover grants where the rating list is subsequently amended retrospectively to the local lock down date.

Grant payment amounts

The grant payable to an eligible business depends on the Rateable Value of the property (as entered on the non-domestic rating list), and the length of time the business has to remain closed. These are as follows:

Rateable Value (RV)	Grant amount payable	Actual grant amount paid for lock down 16/02/21 to 31/3/21 (44 days)
RV of under £15,000	£1,334 for 4 week	£2,096
RV of £15,001 to £50,999	£2,000 for 4 weeks	£3,143
RV of £51,000 and over	£3,000 for 4 weeks	£4,714

How to apply

Grant payments are currently subject to state subsidy limits. If you believe that by receiving this grant payment that you will exceed state subsidy limits, please contact us. 

You will be asked to provide details about your business and to provide proof of bank account details as an upload. A delay to processing your application may arise if this information isn’t provided.

The decision to award or withhold a grant payment is entirely at the discretion of Doncaster Council.

Closing date: This scheme closed to applications on 31 May 2021

Eligibility criteria

The Government has announced further funding to help support businesses that are required to close due to the restrictions being put in place.

In order to be eligible for a grant payment under the LRSG (closed businesses) scheme, a business must:

• Be registered as the business rates payer to Doncaster Council, for a property entered on the non-domestic rating list.
• Must have been open as usual, and providing in-person services to customers from their business premises, then required to close for a consecutive period of no less than two weeks as a result of regulations made under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984. 
• Have been trading the day before local restrictions came into force to be eligible to receive funding under this scheme. 
• Have been forced to close due to local lock down restrictions

From 5 November 2020 to 2 December 2020, and from 5 Janaury 2021, under national lock down measures, the following business types will be able to apply:

• Non-essential retail, such as clothing and homeware stores, vehicle showrooms (other than for rental), betting shops, tailors, tobacco and vape shops, electronic goods and mobile phone shops, and market stalls selling non-essential goods. These venues can continue to be able to operate click-and-collect (where goods are pre-ordered and collected off the premises) and delivery services. 
• Hospitality venues, such as cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and social clubs.
• Leisure and sports facilities, such as leisure centres and gyms, swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, golf courses, fitness and dance studios, climbing walls, archery, driving, and shooting ranges. 
• Accommodation, such as hotels, hostels, guest houses and campsites.
• Entertainment venues, such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, casinos, amusement arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, go-karting venues, soft play centres and areas, circuses, funfairs, zoos and other animal attractions, water parks, theme parks. 
• Personal care facilities, such as hair, beauty, tanning and nail salons, tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body and skin piercing services. 
• Community centres and halls.

Businesses that are able to continue to trade because they do not depend on providing direct in-person services from premises and can operate their services effectively remotely (e.g. accountants, solicitors) are not eligible under this scheme.

If you have already applied for a payment under Tier 3 restrictions, you do not need to re-apply. We will automatically consider your application and make a payment under the national scheme from 5 November 2020 to 2 December 2020 as well.

Find out if your business is required to close on the Covid-19 pages of the .Gov.uk website .

Grant payment amounts

The grant payable to an eligible business depends on the Rateable Value of the property (as entered on the non-domestic rating list), and the length of time the business has to remain closed. These are as follows:

Rateable Value (RV)	Scheme grant amount payable	Actual grant amount paid for lock down 5/11/20 to 2/12/20	Actual grant amount paid for lock down 5/01/21 to 15/2/21 (42 days)
RV of under £15,000	£1,334 for 4 week	£1,334	£2,001
RV of £15,001 to £50,999	£2,000 for 4 weeks	£2,000	£3,000
RV of £51,000 and over	£3,000 for 4 weeks	£3,000	£4,500

How to apply

Grant payments are currently subject to state aid limits. If you believe that by receiving this grant payment that you will exceed state aid limits, please contact us. Read more about State Aid . 

You will be asked to provide details about your business and to provide proof of bank account details as an upload. A delay to processing your application may arise if this information isn’t provided.

The decision to award or withhold a grant payment is entirely at the discretion of Doncaster Council. 

CLOSING DATE: This scheme closed on 31 March 2021. However, any application received after 31 March 2021, but before 31 May 2021 will still be awarded the final LRSG payment for the period 16 February 2021 to 31 March 2021 only.

Eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible for a grant payment under the LRSG (open businesses) scheme, a business must:

• Be registered as the business rates payer to Doncaster Council, for a property entered on the non-domestic rating list .
• Must have been open as usual, and providing in-person services to customers from their business premises, for the period Doncaster was under Tier 2 restrictions.
• Have been adversely affected by local lock down restrictions introduced on 24 October 2020 or due to national lock down restrictions introduced on 5 November 2020.

From 14 October 2020 to 4 November 2020, the business must be in the following business categories:

• Hospitality, Leisure, B&B and Hotels.

From 2 December 2020 to 4 January 2021, the business must be in the following business categories

• Leisure

(please not Hospitality, B&B and hotels are covered by Tier 3 restrictions for this period)

Grant payment amounts

Tier 2 payments will be made based on the following levels, pro-rated for the relevant period of eligibility:

Rateable Value (RV)	Scheme grant amount payable	Actual grant amount payable for 14/10/20 to 4/11/20 for Hospitality, Leisure and accommodation (22 days)	Actual grant amount payable for 14/10/20 to 23/10/20 (Pubs not serving food only)	Actual grant amount payable for 2/12/20 to 18/12/20 for Leisure only (17 days)	Actual grant amount payable for 19/12/20 to 1/1/21 for Leisure only (14 days)
RV of £15,000 and under	£934 for 4 weeks	£734	£334	£567	£467
RV of £15,001 to £50,999	£1,400 for 4 weeks	£1,100	£500	£850	£700
RV of £51,000 and over	£2,100 for 4 weeks	£1,650	£750	£1,275	£1,050

Grant payments are currently subject to state aid limits. If you believe that by receiving this grant payment that you will exceed state aid limits, please contact us. Read more about State Aid .

How to apply

You do not need to apply separately for a Tier 2 support payment. We will automatically determine if your business is eligible to this support when processing any Local Restrictions Support Grant application.

CLOSING DATE: This scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2021. 

Eligibility criteria

• Be registered as the business rates payer to Doncaster Council, for the relevant property entered on the non-domestic rating list on the first day of local restrictions being implemented.
• Have been trading the day before local restrictions came into force to be eligible to receive funding under this scheme. Where local restrictions are preceded by national ‘lockdown’ measures, requiring the extended closure of eligible businesses, it is accepted that those businesses are still trading.
• Must have been open as usual, and providing in-person services to customers from their business premises, then required to close for a consecutive period of no less than two weeks as a result of regulations made under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984.
• must be closed for the entirety of the 14-day payment cycle to be eligible. If a business is open and then decides to close during a payment cycle, it will only become eligible for a grant when it enters the next 14-day payment cycle.

From 24 October 2020 to 4 November 2020, only businesses from the following business categories were required to close under Tier 3 restrictions:

• Pubs that do not serve food
• Casinos
• Adult Gaming centres
• Betting shops
• Soft play areas

From 1 November 2020, support was extended to include the following businesses under the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Sector) scheme:

• Nightclubs
• Adult entertainment venues

From 2 December 2020 to 4 January 2021, Tier 3 restrictions required the following business types to close

• Hospitality venues, such as cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and social clubs.
• Leisure and sports facilities, such as leisure centres and gyms, swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, golf courses, fitness and dance studios, climbing walls, archery, driving, and shooting ranges. 
• Accommodation, such as hotels, hostels, guest houses and campsites.
• Entertainment venues, such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, casinos, amusement arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, go-karting venues, soft play centres and areas, circuses, funfairs, zoos and other animal attractions, water parks, theme parks. 

Please note: where a business is required to close its main in-person service, but adapts its business to operate takeaway, click and collect, or online with delivery services, it will be considered closed and be eligible to receive grants under this scheme, because its substantive business must close.

For full details of the business required to close during Tier 3 restrictions please go to .Gov.uk  .

Grant payment amounts

The grant payable to an eligible business depends on the Rateable Value of the property (as entered on the non-domestic rating), and the length of time the business has to remain closed.

Grants are payable on a 2 weekly basis. Your first payment will be made from the next available payment cycle after your application is received.

These are as follows:

Rateable Value (RV)	Scheme grant amount payable	Actual grant amount payable for 24/10/20 to 4/11/20 (12 days)	Actual grant amount payable for 2/12/20 to 18/12/20 (17 days)	Actual grant amount payable for 19/12/20 to 01/01/21 (14 days)	Actual grant amount payable for 2/1/21 to 4/1/21 (3 days)
RV of £15,000 and under	£667 for 2 weeks	£572	£810	£667	£143
RV of £15,001 to £50,999	£1,000 for 2 weeks	£857	£1,214	£1,000	£214
RV of £51,000 and over	£1,500 for 2 weeks	£750	£1,821	£1,500	£321

Exclusions

The following exclusions apply:

• Businesses that are able to conduct their main service because they do not depend on providing direct in-person services from premises and can operate their services effectively remotely (e.g. accountants, solicitors).
• Business premises that are empty are not eligible under this scheme.
• Businesses subject to local restrictions that are implemented for less than 14 days and businesses that are closed for less than 14 days are not eligible for grant funding.
• Businesses in areas outside the scope of the localised restrictions, as defined by Government, are also excluded.
• Businesses that have chosen to close but not been required to will not be eligible for this grant.
• Businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum levels of State aid permitted under the de minimis and the Covid-19 Temporary State Aid Framework.
• For the avoidance of doubt, businesses that were in administration, are insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made are not eligible for funding under this scheme. However, eligible businesses that have a voluntary agreement but are not insolvent, in liquidation or in administration will be eligible to receive a grant if they are still trading and operating, but only under de minimis, if the agreement means the business is ineligible for a grant under the COVID-19 Temporary Framework for UK Authorities.
• Specific businesses subject to national closures since 23 March 2020 will not be eligible for this funding. They will be provided support through the strand of the LRSG (Sector) for nationally mandated business closures.

How to apply

You do not need to apply separately for a Tier 3 support payments. We will automatically determine if your business is eligible to this support when processing any Local Restrictions Support Grant application.

CLOSING DATE: This scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2021. 

Sheffield City Region have agreed a one-off top payment for December 20 and January 21, to supplement the LRSG (closed) scheme for hospitality, accommodation and entertainment businesses forced to close under Tier 3 and national restrictions. The level of payment will be based on a business’ Rateable Value or rental values. This additional payment is to reflect our recognition of the difficult trading conditions experienced by these sectors.

The scheme applies to both Business Rate paying business and non-Business Rate paying businesses.

Eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible a business must:

• be in the Hospitality, Accommodation or Entertainment sectors
• be required to close under the current Tier 3 restrictions.

The following business types from the Hospitality, Accommodation and Entertainment sectors are excluded under this scheme:

• national chains,
• casinos,
• bingo halls
• adult gaming and
• adult entertainment venues

Grant payment amounts

Rateable Value	One off December grant amount	One off January 21 grant amount	Total payable under scheme
Under £15,000	£2,000	£2,000	£4,000
£15,001 to £50,999	£4,000	£4,000	£8,000
£51,000 and over	£6,000	£6,000	£12,000

The additional grant top up will be automatically paid to eligible businesses as part of any Local Restrictions Support Grant application.

If you have already been paid a grant, and you are eligible, a further payment will be made to you for this scheme very soon. You do not need to submit a new application. 

CLOSING DATE: This scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2021. 

As part of the package of support available to businesses under the national lock down restrictions imposed on 5 January 2021, the chancellor has announced a one off grant payment of up to £9,000 for businesses required to close.

Businesses who are eligible for support under the Local Restrictions Support Grant (closed businesses) Addendum, for the national lock down from 5 January 2021, will also receive the following payment:

Rateable Value	Grant amount payable
Under £15,000	£4,000
£15,001 to £50,999	£6,000
£51,00 and over	£9,000

How to apply

The one off grant payment will be automatically paid to eligible businesses as part of any Local Restrictions Support Grant application.

If you have already been paid a grant, and you are eligible, a further payment will be made to you for this scheme very soon. You do not need to submit a new application. 

CLOSING DATE: This scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2021. 

We are sorry, but applications for this scheme have now closed. Regrettably, any application received after 28 February 2021 cannot be considered for payment.

On 1 December 2020, the Government announced the introduction of additional support over the festive period for wet-led pubs in areas under Tier 2 or 3 restrictions.

Eligibility criteria

A one off grant of £1,000 will be payable to eligible wet led pubs.

In order to be eligible, the business must:

• Be registered as the business rates payer to Doncaster Council, for the relevant property entered on the non-domestic rating list on 1 December 2020.
• Be defined as a pub. For the purpose of this grant, defined as -open to the general public, allow free entry other than when occasional entertainment is provided, allow drinking without requiring food to be consumed and permit drinks to be purchased at a bar.
• Be a wet-led pub, meaning it derives less than 50% of its income from sales of food.
• Have been trading on 30 November (the day before this scheme was announced). Where local restrictions are preceded by national ‘lockdown’ measures, requiring the closure of businesses that are otherwise eligible, it is accepted that those businesses are still trading.

Please note: This scheme excludes restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, hotels, snack bars, guesthouses, boarding houses, sporting venues, music venues, festival sites, theatres, museums, exhibition halls, cinemas, concert halls and casinos.

Where a Local Authority has reason to believe that the information that they hold about the ratepayer is inaccurate they may withhold or recover the grant and take reasonable steps to identify the correct ratepayer. Local Authorities should make clear to recipients that the grant is for the ratepayer and may be liable for recovery if the recipient was not the ratepayer on the eligible day.

Businesses that are also in receipt of other Local Restrictions Support Grants – for example LRSG (Closed) or Additional Restrictions Grant – can also receive this grant.

Grant payment amount

A one of payment of £1,000 is payable to eligible wet let pubs.

Exclusions

The following exclusions apply to this scheme:

• Pubs that derive over 50% of their income from food sales are not be eligible to receive funding through this grant scheme.
• Restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, hotels, snack bars, guesthouses, boarding houses, sporting venues, music venues, festival sites, theatres, museums, exhibition halls, cinemas, concert halls and casinos are not eligible under this scheme.
• Businesses in areas moving from Tier 1 to Tier 2 or Tier 3 after 29 December are not be eligible to receive funding.
• Businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum levels of State aid permitted under the de minimis, the Covid-19 Temporary State Aid Framework and all other UK schemes under the terms of the European Commission’s Temporary Framework are 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.

How to apply

We have actively identified eligible businesses and have written to those businesses providing details of the scheme and an application form. The letter contains a disclaimer application form, asking you to confirm that your business meets the criteria of this scheme and to confirm your business bank account details.

CLOSING DATE: This scheme closed to new applications on 28 February 2021. 

Eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible for a grant payment under the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), a business must:

• Not be registered as a business rates payer or included in the non-domestic rating list in Doncaster
• Must have fixed property costs. Fixed property costs can include, rent or a mortgage for the business property and other costs, such as fees for the hire of premises. Domestic dwelling costs are not included.
• Have been open as usual, and providing in-person services to customers from their premises, prior to restrictions being announced under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984.

Grants will be paid for businesses that were forced to close as part of Government restrictions, for the period 5 November 2020 to 02 December 2020, in the following categories:   

• Non-essential retail selling non-essential goods. These venues can continue to be able to operate click-and-collect (where goods are pre-ordered and collected off the premises) and delivery services.
• Hospitality venues, such as cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and social clubs.
• Leisure and sports facilities.
• Accommodation such as Bed and Breakfasts and guest houses.
• Entertainment venues.
• Personal care facilities, such as hair and beauty, tanning and nail salons.
• Community centres and halls.

Grants will be paid for business that remained open for the period 14 October 2020 to 4 November 2020, who suffered a loss of trade due to local restrictions and were in the hospitality, accommodation and leisure sectors only.    

Grant payment amounts

The grant payable to an eligible business depends on the level of fixed property costs (as shown below), and the length of time the business has been closed and has to remain closed.

Forced National Closures

(5 November 2020 to 2 December 2020)

(5 January 2021 to 15 February 2021)

(16 February 2021 to 31 March 2021)

Includes business within the Non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure, accommodation, entertainment, personal care and community sectors

Fixed Property Costs e.g. Rent	Grant payable for 5 November 20 to 2 December 2020	Grant payable 5 January 2021 to 15 February 2021 (42 days)	One off closed business support payment for January 2021	Grant payable 16 February 2021 to 31 March 2021 (44 days)
£0 to £1,499	£0	£0	£0	£0
£1,500 to £2,999	£500	£750	£1,500	£786
£3,000 to £15,000	£1,334	£2,000	£4,000	£2,096
£15,001  to £51,000	£2,000	£3,000	£6,000	£3,143
More than £51,000	£3,000	£4,500	£9,000	£4,714

(14 October 2020 to 23 October 2020, Tier 2 Local Restrictions) 
Open Business grants (hospitality, accommodation and leisure sectors only)

(24 October 2020 to 4 November 2020, Tier 3 National Restrictions)

The total grant payable for both Tier 2 and Tier 3 periods is as follows:  

Closed Business grants (Hospitality, Accommodation and Entertainment sectors only)

(2 December 2020 to 1 January 2021)

Fixed Property costs e.g. Rent	Grant paid for period 2/12/20 to 18/12/20 (17 days)	Grant paid for period 19/12/20 to 1/1/21 (14 days)
£0 to £1,499	£810	£667
£1,500 to £2,999	£810	£667
£3,000 to £15,000	£810	£667
£15,001 to £51,000	£1,214	£1,000
More than £51,000	£1,821	£1,500

Open Business grants (leisure sector only)

(2 December 2020 to 1 January 2021)

Fixed property cost e.g. Rent	Grant paid for the period 2/12/20 to 18/12/20 (17 days)	Grant paid for period 19/12/20 to 1/1/21 (14 days)
£0 to £1,499	£567	£467
£1,500 to £2,999	£567	£467
£3,000 to £15,000	£567	£467
£15,001 to £51,000	£850	£700
More than £51,000	£1,275	£1,050

Grant payments are currently subject to state aid limits. If you believe that by receiving this grant payment that you will exceed state aid limits, please contact us. Read more about State Aid .

How to apply

If your business is eligible please complete the online application form.

You will be asked to provide details about your business and to provide proof of bank account details and evidence of your fixed property costs as an upload. A delay to processing your application may arise if this information isn’t provided.

This funding is limited and once Doncaster’s allocation has been used, no further applications can be considered and any outstanding applications will be rejected.

The decision to award or withhold a grant payment is entirely at the discretion of Doncaster Council. 

CLOSING DATE: This scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2021. 

Sheffield City Region have agreed a one-off top payment for December 20 and January 21, to supplement the LRSG (closed) scheme for hospitality, accommodation and entertainment businesses forced to close under Tier 3 and national restrictions. The level of payment will be based on a business’ Rateable Value or rental values. This additional payment is to reflect our recognition of the difficult trading conditions experienced by these sectors.

The scheme applies to both Business Rate paying business and non-Business Rate paying businesses.

Eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible a business must:

• be in the Hospitality, Accommodation or Entertainment sectors
• be required to close under the current Tier 3 restrictions.

The following business types within the Hospitality, Accommodation and Entertainment sectors are excluded under this scheme:

• national chains,
• casinos,
• bingo halls
• adult gaming and
• adult entertainment venues

Grant payment amounts

Eligible non-Business Rate paying businesses will receive the following based upon their fixed property related costs.

The additional grant top up will be automatically paid to eligible businesses as part of any Additional Restrictions Support Grant application.

If you have already been paid a grant, and you are eligible, a further payment will be made to you for this scheme very soon. You do not need to submit a new application. 

CLOSING DATE: This scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2021. 

This is a one-off grant for public facing businesses that have been limited by the Governments roadmap out of lockdown, to only open outdoors from Monday 12 April.

This grant is to acknowledge the additional expenditure that hospitality businesses and venues have had to incur to prepare to re-open and serve people entirely outdoors. The grant will be linked to specific items of expenditure either planned or already paid for.

Eligibility criteria

Key eligibility criteria includes the following:

• Business must be in occupation and trading from commercial premises.
• Must be business to consumer trading
• Must operate in the HALE sector
• Must have an Outdoor Hospitality offer either existing or planned
• Have incurred costs associated with adapting their business to increase capacity for outdoor hospitality after 22 February 2021 OR
• Be planning to incur costs associated with adapting their business to increase capacity for outdoor hospitality. Spend must be completed by 21 June 2021.

Exclusions

• Business not operating in the HALE sector
• Business to business trading
• Businesses in administration, insolvent, or subject to striking off notice
• An Undertaking in Difficulty (unless you are a micro or small enterprise and not subject to collective insolvency proceedings)
• Places of worship
• Businesses not capable of trading activity
• Businesses considered to have a detrimental impact on the town e.g. imposition or breach of statutory notice.
• National chains
• A franchise unless the outlet is a separately registered and owned business

Grant Allocations

• One grant per premise to a maximum of 3 premises  
• Maximum £3,000 grant per premise
• Minimum £1,000 grant per premise
• Grant can support 100% of eligible costs up to maximum £3,000
• Grant can provide a contribution to a larger invoice / expenditure outlay to a maximum of 20K. e.g. business has spent £15,000 on the installation of a raised deck and shelter – a grant of £3,000 can be provided as a contribution.

Application process and assessment

• The application process will be open for a period of two weeks
• Grants will be processed on a first come first served basis
• Limited budget available

Evidence requirements

• Itemised Invoice/s for eligible costs including hire costs dated after 22 February 2021
• Bank statement to verify bank details and provide evidence of expenditure.
• Valid itemised quotes for equipment or hire (where costs have not yet been incurred)
• Invoices & quotes must include the premises address.

Eligible costs (guide only)

• shelters
• gazebos
• umbrellas
• tables/chairs
• decking/parklets/platforms
• planters
• marquees
• payment terminals
• signage
• marquee
• lighting/sound/PA equipment
• bar areas
• barriers/tap rails
• hire of the above equipment
• costs associated with installation of the above (invoice description must include work undertaken)

Ineligible costs

• Heaters
• Licenses/permits required by law
• Legal fees
• Salary costs
• IT/technology for service e.g. ipads
• Items required for service e.g. glasses/plates/cutlery
• Costs that cannot be evidenced and not directly associated with trading outside.

How to apply

CLOSING DATE: This grant closed to new applications on 7 June 2021

To support taxi drivers within South Yorkshire who have suffered loss of income due to local and national restrictions which have had an impact on their trade, a one-off payment of £1,000 is available to each licensed taxi driver. This payment will be made from the £30m funding provided to Sheffield City Region to support the region's businesses.

Eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible for a grant payment, the licensed taxi driver must:

• Be registered as a licensed taxi driver with Doncaster Council on 14 October 2020.
• Operate as a licensed taxi drivers in the South Yorkshire area.

The bank account details provided for payment must belong to the applicant licensed taxi driver. Payments will not be made to a 3rd party bank account. 

Grant payment amount

A one of payment of £1,000 is payable to eligible licensed taxi drivers.

How to apply

If you are an eligible licensed taxi driver, please complete the online application form.

You will be asked to provide details about you, your address, your taxi license, and bank account details. You will also be asked to upload a recent bank account statement. Your application may be delayed or refused if this information isn’t provided.

The decision to award or withhold a grant payment is entirely at the discretion of Doncaster Council. 

CLOSING DATE: This scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2021. 

This scheme has recently been re-opened. The application window under this scheme now closes at 17:00 on 31 March 2021. 

Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible for a grant payment under the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) - Supply Chain a business must:

• Be a Business located in South Yorkshire. (applications will be made to the Local authority in which the business is located )
• Operate business to business, within the South Yorkshire region.
• Show that the majority of trade was with the hospitality, accommodation, leisure and entertainment sectors.
• Have been open and trading on 13 October 2020.
• Have minimum fixed business property costs identified either by a rateable value (for existing business rate payers), or other costs such as rent or a business mortgage for businesses who are not included on the rating list, and as a result do not pay business rates. These can also include storage costs directly associated with the business.

Examples of supply chain business can include but are not restricted to:

• Booking agents
• Event Management companies
• Sporting equipment
• Catering equipment
• Travel Agents
• Outdoor Pursuits companies
• Wedding Cars
• Coach Hire
• Catteries/Kennels
• Dry cleaning companies
• Breweries/Drink providers
• Food preparation (not retail)
• Florists
• Cake companies
• Security Services

Grant payment amounts

The grant payable to an eligible business depends on the level of fixed property costs (as shown below), business activity and extent of losses. 

The scheme has now been supplemented by SCR through a further discretionary one-off payment for December 2020.This amount will be paid in addition to the Supply Chain grant and will be paid into bank accounts at the same time as the initial payment. There is no need to apply again if you have already applied under the Supply Chain Scheme. Grants will be paid as follows:

Fixed property costs (Rateable Value or Rent etc)	Initial Grant amount	December 20 Top up amount	January 21 Top up amount	Total payable under scheme
£1 to £2,999	£500	£934	£1,868	£3,302
£3,000 to £15,000	£934	£934	£1,868	£3,736
£15,001 to £50,999	£1,400	£1,400	£2,800	£5,600
£51,000 and above	£2,100	£2,100	£4,200	£8,400

• Payment is a one off payment on the basis of being open for a 28 day period.
  All properties with RV or Fixed costs of £3,000 or over will receive the relevant grant (one grant per property)
• For any properties with RV or Fixed costs under £3,000, one grant will be paid per business rather than per property

Update 13 April 2021 - We are also pleased to confirm that Sheffield City Region have agreed a further payment to support Supply Chain businesses as they prepare for the re-opening of their business customers. We are pleased to confirm that on 9 April 2021, additional payments worth £222,264 were automatically paid to 112 eligible businesses, who have already received a grant payment under the ARG Supply Chain scheme. We are sorry but this is not open to new applications. Payments were made as follows:

Fixed property costs (Rateable Value or Rent etc)	Amount payable
£1 to £2,999	£1,868
£3,000 to £15,000	£1,868
£15,001 to £50,999	£2,800
£51,000 and above	£4,200

 

Exclusions

• Businesses that have already benefited from a Local Restrictions Grant or an Additional Restriction Grant.
• You must not have been able to access any other government business support during this period. Please note, this excludes the government's furlough support scheme or self-employed income scheme
• National and larger companies
• Properties that were already closed on 13 October 2020
• Businesses which have already received grant payments that equal the maximum levels of State aid permitted under the de-minimis and the Covid-19 Temporary State Aid Framework are not eligible for this grant.
• Businesses in areas outside the scope of the restrictions, as defined by Government, are not eligible for this grant.
• Businesses run from domestic properties with no business fixed property costs.
• Professional services that can operate remotely, such as accountants.
• Businesses that were in administration, are insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made at the date of the local lockdown are not eligible for this grant.

How to apply

If your business is eligible please complete the online application form.

You will be asked to provide details about your business and to provide proof of bank account details, evidence of fixed property costs if you are not a registered business rates payer and evidence of insurance. You may also be asked to supply evidence of losses and certain marketing information. A delay to processing your application may arise if this information isn’t provided.

This funding is limited and once Doncaster’s allocation has been used, no further applications can be considered and any outstanding applications will be rejected.

These grants are also subject to state aid and by accepting any grant you must confirm that you are not in breach of state aid rules.

CLOSING DATE: This scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2021. 

Working alongside the Sheffield City Region, funding has been secured to support home working, mobile and self-employed businesses that provide an in-person/face to face service and have suffered loss of trade because of COVID-19 and that have been unable to access any of the existing business grant schemes. All qualifying businesses received a one off payment of £1000 under their original application. As of March 2021, a further payment of £1,000 will be made to all qualifying businesses under this scheme. This means total grant payable under this scheme was £2,000.

Eligibility criteria

• Be unable to access any other government business support packages during this period or the Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) with the exception of the Furlough support scheme.
• Be a micro/small business (fewer than 49 employees).
• Be registered as a business before 31 December 2020.
• Confirm trading has been negatively impacted by COVID-19.
• Demonstrate some business related costs e.g. business insurance costs, trade association membership costs, etc.
• Comply with De-Minimus State aid rules.

Exclusions

• Businesses that have already benefited from a Local Restrictions Grant or an Additional Restriction Grant.
• National and larger companies
• Professional services e.g. solicitors, accountants, insurance agents/financial advisers that can operate remotely
• Businesses that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made at the date of the national restriction for funding under this scheme.

CLOSING DATE: This scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2021. 

This scheme only applies to businesses which are NOT required to close under the national lock down restrictions from 5 January 2021, and which have suffered a significant loss of trade.

If you have been required to close, please see the Local Restrictions Support Grant (for businesses registered for business rates) and Additional Restrictions Support Grant (for business not registered for business rates) schemes. If you are a self employed, mobile or home based business, please see the Discretionary Grant scheme. If you are a supply chain business to the hospitality, accommodation and entertainment sectors, lease see the Supply Chain scheme.

We are aware that many businesses that have been able to remain open during the national lock down are suffering from a loss of trade. Using funding allocated to Sheffield City Region, this grants is being made available to acknowledge the loss of trade and costs associated with staying open at a time of lack of footfall on the High St and reduced consumer confidence in visiting those businesses which can remain open to the public since national lock down restrictions were introduced on 5 January 2021.

Under this scheme a one-off grant is available to public facing businesses that are allowed to stay Open under the 5^th January 2021 National Lock down.

Eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible a business MUST:

• be permitted to remain open under Government lock down regulations effective from 5 January 2021.
• have its business property in South Yorkshire.
• have fixed property costs – identified by RV or Rent (or mortgage payments).
• have been trading on 4^th January 2021.
• be able to demonstrate a significant loss of trade because of current or previous national lock downs (March 2020 / November 2020 / January 2021).
• have the primary activity of provision of in-person services for the sale of goods/services to the public on a face to face basis e.g. the public are required to enter business premises to purchase goods/services.

Subject to evidencing a significant loss in trade, whilst not limited to, this may include businesses such as, independent food retailers – including mini-markets, corner shops, butchers, green grocers, newsagents, vehicle repairs and MOT services, independent launderettes and dry cleaners, professional training centre, takeaways, or providers of medical services e.g. dental services, opticians, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or health services, including services relating to mental health.

Exclusions

The following exclusions apply:

• A business that has been forced to close but still trades on a revised basis e.g. a restaurant offering a takeaway service are not eligible.
• National/ Large Companies and Franchises (unless an independent business operating the franchise) e.g. large and national supermarkets are not eligible.
• Businesses whose primary function is not to provide goods/services to members of the public within their premise e.g. manufacturing sales/show rooms are not eligible.
• Businesses that can continue to trade because they do not depend on providing direct in-person services from premises and can operate their services effectively remotely (e.g. accountants, solicitors) are not eligible.
• Office and manufacturing businesses are not eligible.
• Businesses eligible to receive grants under the Local Restrictions Support Grant (closed businesses) scheme cannot claim under this scheme.

Grant payment amounts

The grant payable to an eligible business depends on the level of rateable value (RV) for rate paying businesses or fixed property costs for non rate paying businesses. These are as follows:

RV or Fixed property cost e.g. rent	Grant amount payable
£1 - £15,000	£1,400
£15,001 to £50,999	£2,100
£51,000 and over	£3,150

Grants will be provided based on one grant per eligible property

How to apply

If your business is eligible please complete the online application form.

You will be asked to provide details about your business and to provide proof of bank account details, evidence of fixed property costs if you are not a registered business rates payer and evidence of insurance. You may also be asked to supply evidence of losses and certain marketing information. A delay to processing your application may arise if this information isn’t provided.

These grants are also subject to state aid and by accepting any grant you must confirm that you are not in breach of state aid rules.

CLOSING DATE: This scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2021.

The Digital Innovation Grant (DIG) is for NEW digital projects that enable or accelerate the development of new products, processes or services, give access to new markets, helping to safeguard and create jobs. It is NOT to fund a technology refresh, applicants must clearly evidence how the grant can add value to their business and help them grow and exploit new opportunities.

The Grant is funded by Sheffield City Region (SCR) Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) and is being delivered in Doncaster by Business Doncaster.

How Much is Available?

• Maximum amount available is £10k.
• Applications will be considered with projects that have a total cost between £3k - £50k.
• Applicants must provide at least 50% match.
  • For example, a £3k project the applicant would receive £1.5k but must provide the other £1.5k of match funding.
  • For a £20k project the applicant would receive £10k the maximum grant allowed under this scheme but must provide the other £10k of match funding.
  • For a £50k project which is the maximum total project cost amount allowed under this scheme, the applicant would still only receive £10k but must provide the other £40k.

Who is eligible for the grant?

To be eligible for this grant:

• Businesses with new digital projects that enable or accelerate the development of new products, processes or services, give access to new markets, helping to safeguard and create jobs.
• The project must be completed and paid for by 30 September 2021
• You must be a Doncaster based business.
• Businesses trading less than 12 months - additional verification checks will be completed to examine the financial viability of the business.
• Your business must not be in financial distress and have the resources to implement the project, and the ability to survive following the impact of COVID-19.
• You must have a business bank account linked to the specific business applying for the grant. Grants will not be paid into personal accounts.
• The grant is being awarded under the COVID-19 Business Grant Subsidy Allowance and by submitting this application you are electing to use this scheme.

What expenditure is eligible?

The Grant is for digital business solutions that will provide business benefit and growth. This may include, but not limited to:

• Client Relationship Management systems
• Cloud solutions
• New software development
• Remote monitoring and working solutions
• Collaboration technologies
• Large data transfer solutions
• Live high-quality video streaming
• Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
• New laptops, desktops or tablet computers and other peripheral devices, e.g. printers.*
• Development of apps
• E commerce solutions.
• Integration and consultancy costs

Below are a few practical examples of the type of projects that would be welcomed:

• The business problem/ issue faced by the business that would be improved through ICT innovation, including information about the area of the business it will benefit.
• Demonstrate how the project will enable the business to introduce a new product or process innovation to market
• Demonstrate how the project will make the business more productive
• Demonstrate a step change that will help the business grow
• Satisfy that the proposals are viable, offer value for money, realistic and deliverable

*Please note funding can only be to ‘add value’ It cannot be used to merely replace old equipment or infrastructure.

Examples of potential projects could include;

• A manufacturing business investing in a new digital printer to rapidly bar code all manufactured items, which will allow it to update its online inventory and improve efficiency in the production process.
• A business investing in a new smart technology for its vehicles, which provides real time intelligence on the location of delivery vehicles for clients and more accurate information about delivery timescales.
• A business investing in a new fully e-commerce enabled website, which links through to its stock control/inventory system, allowing the firm to increase its customer base and offer a seamless user experience.

• Scheme now closed: We are sorry to confirm that this scheme has now closed to new applications.

Doncaster Council has made available funding from the Additional Restriction Grant for a small number of grants for growth businesses based in Doncaster that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are looking to support businesses with projects that can commence delivery quickly are able to complete within 6 months.

Funding is available for 50% of project costs between £5k and £24,999k (i.e. grants of between £2.5k and £12.5k). This can be revenue or capital expenditure. Qualifying projects must be focused on safeguarding jobs by helping to improve productivity and improve the way in which businesses measure and report productivity gains. Priority will be given to those applicants who can create potential new employment opportunities.

The type of qualifying project will vary by sector. For example, a manufacturing company could qualify if they have a proven need to invest in new equipment to improve product quality and reduce waste. For a professional services firm, it might be about internal communication systems to improve the alignment of goal setting with business strategy.

We are anticipating a high demand for this grant therefore to manage expectations applications will close when we have received 30 completed applications.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to make an application, businesses must:

• Be located in the Sheffield City Region and paying business rates to Doncaster
• Be categorised as a Small to Medium Sized Enterprise
• Be viable, demonstrating growth or potential to grow
• Have been trading for at least 12 months
• Operating from commercial premises;
• Have a project that is able to deliver a return of investment through jobs / turnover / productivity.
• Be planning expenditure or have a project in the pipeline for which approval of a grant would:
  • Create incentive to bring forward the timing of the project (do it earlier than planned)
  • Increase the scale of the investment in the project.
• Be in a position to make a legal commitment to the supplier(s) once the grant is approved and contracted.
• Note that the grant cannot be used for working capital or wage costs.

Scheme now closed: We are sorry to confirm that this scheme has now closed to new applications.