Wales Financial Support update – eligibility checker live

There are two distinct funds to support hospitality businesses in Wales:

Today the eligibility checker went live on the Business Wales website.

Here is the link to the checker: https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/

More information on the grants:

1. The ERF Restrictions Business Fund:

• Businesses in the hospitality sectors that are in receipt of Small Business rate relief (SBRR) and have a rateable value of £12,000 or less will be eligible for a £3,000 payment. Tourism, leisure and supply chain business qualifying for SBRR will also be eligible for this support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.
• Hospitality businesses with a rateable value of between £12,001 and £51,000 being eligible for a £5,000 payment if they are forced to close. Tourism, leisure, retail and supply chain business in the same rateable value bracket will also be eligible for this support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.
• Hospitality businesses with a rateable value between £51,001 and £150,000 being eligible for a £5,000 payment if impacted by the restrictions. Tourism and leisure businesses in the same rateable value bracket will also be eligible for this support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.

How to access the ERF Restrictions Fund:

Businesses must be on the non-domestic rates (NDR) rating list for their local authority on 1st September. 

Hospitality businesses who received the Lockdown Business Grant in October via their Local Authority will begin receiving payments via the ERF Restriction Fund into their bank account during December. These businesses will not be required to re-register their details.

For all other eligible businesses to receive any of the ERF Restrictions Fund, businesses will need to register their details, as well as making a short on-line application to their respective local authority for the discretionary elements. These payments will start to reach businesses in January.

Business will be able to access the registration and application process to access the funding through the Business Wales and Local Authority websites. Further details on the process will be published shortly.

2. ERF Restrictions Discretionary Grant:

• Local authorities will continue delivering the Lockdown Discretionary Grant to businesses that are materially impacted.  As was the case for the Firebreak, this will continue to be targeted at businesses that are not on the non-domestic rates (NDR) system and therefore not eligible for the NDR linked grants. The grant level for this strand would be set at eligible costs of up to £2,000 per business.
• This will provide support to sub VAT sole traders without a property who are materially impacted (>40% reduced turnover) as a result of the restrictions, e.g. cleaners providing services to the hospitality industry.
• Applications for the grant can be accessed by visiting the relevant local authority website, or via the Business Wales website.

You are not eligible for this grant if:

• You are eligible for, or have received a Non-Domestic Rate Grant from your Local Authority
• If you have 50 or more employees
• If the business generated less than 50% of your income, the business must be your main source of income.