Mobility businesses affected by local lockdowns can claim up to £1500 every 3 weeks
Mobility companies that are required to close their doors because of local COVID-19 lockdowns will be able to claim up to £1,500 per property every three weeks.
The new funding scheme, which provides what the government describes as a ‘safety net’ to protect jobs and businesses, was announced by the Treasury on 9 September.
Companies in England forced to shut due to local lockdowns or targeted restrictions will be eligible for the grant, with the largest businesses receiving £1,500 every three weeks and smaller businesses receiving £1,000.
Payments will be triggered by a national decision to close businesses in a high incidence area.
Steve Barclay, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: “These grants provide businesses with a safety net as they temporarily close their doors to help save lives in their local areas.
“As local economies eventually and carefully re-open after local interventions, our Plan for Jobs is there waiting to help businesses get back on their feet, protect jobs and thrive in the future.”
Currently these payments are available in Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle, and Oldham as part of an ongoing trial scheme.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: “No business should be punished for doing the right thing, which is why today’s package will offer additional breathing space for businesses that have had to temporarily close to control the virus.
“Through our wider Plan for Jobs, we will continue to back our innovators and job creators across the country who are playing a critical role as we build back better from the pandemic.”
It comes as local outbreaks of the virus continue to flare up across England, with this week seeing restrictions tightened in both Bolton and Caerphilly.
How much is a company entitled to?
Speaking to MPs, Steve Barclay explained how the scheme will work in more detail: “Closed businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or less will receive a cash grant of £1,000 for each three-week period they are closed.
“For closed businesses with a rateable value higher than £51,000, the grants will be £1,500.
“The grants will cover each additional three-week period, so if a small business is closed for six weeks, it will receive £2,000.”
In addition, the Treasury chief suggested the grants could be used alongside the government-backed low-interest loans to support firms facing acute financial difficulties.
Local authorities will be responsible for distributing the grants, confirmed the government.
In addition, local authorities will also receive an additional 5 per cent top-up amount of business support funding to enable them to help other businesses affected by closures which may not be on the business rates list. Payments made to businesses from this discretionary fund can be any amount up to £1,500 and may be less than £1,000 in some cases.
