Small businesses across Swindon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire are now able to apply for a £5,000 grant direct from their local authorities.
Since last week, businesses employing up to 49 people can apply for a share of the Discretionary Grants Fund, with 5 of the 7 local authority areas in Swindon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire currently accepting applications. The window for applications to the discretionary grants fund run by Cotswold District Council and Forest of Dean District Council is now closed.
The Discretionary Grants Fund was announced by central government in May to help businesses with relatively high ongoing fixed property-related costs who have suffered a significant fall in revenue as a result of the coronavirus lockdown. Bed & breakfasts, nurseries, small businesses in shared offices, the self-employed, market traders and charities that receive charitable business rates are just some of the businesses that qualify.
Businesses who are considering making an application for a grant from the Discretionary Grants Funds will need to do so in the next week or so, given that the deadline for each of the local authorities in Swindon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire accepting applications is either 21 or 22 June.
If you’re unsure which local authority you need to apply to, before reading on, follow this link to the GOV.uk website.
Swindon Borough Council
Swindon Borough Council strongly encourages applications from the following types of businesses:
- Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces
- Regular market traders with fixed building costs and street trading licences
- Bed & Breakfasts that pay Council Tax instead of business rates
- Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rate relief in properties with low rateable assessments
Please note, any business who has received or is eligible for other COVID-19 government grant schemes, including the Small Business Grant or Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant, is not eligible for this discretionary funding.
The eligibility criteria, guidance and a link to the application form can be found on the Council’s website at www.swindon.gov.uk/covidbusiness.
Any business which believes it might be eligible for this discretionary funding should apply before the deadline at 9pm on 21 June.
Wiltshire Council
Wiltshire Council’s applications page went live on 8 June and will run until 5pm on 22 June.
Detailed guidance regarding the scheme can be accessed using this link.
Applications need to be made online. Scroll down this page and click the ‘Apply online’ button under the heading ‘COVID-19 Discretionary Fund Grant Form‘ to apply.
If you have any queries you can email: Covid-19BusinessSupport@wiltshire.gov.uk
Gloucester City Council
Online applications for the discretionary grants fund opened to Gloucester businesses on 9 June 2020.
Gloucester City Council’s website states that businesses should only apply if they were trading on 11 March 2020 and haven’t received any other central government COVID-19 funding such as:
- Small Business Grant Fund
- Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund
- Fisheries Response Fund
- Domestic Seafood Supply Scheme
- Zoos Support Fund
- Dairy Hardship Fund
The online application form can be accessed here. The stated closing date for applications is Sunday 21 June 2020.
Cheltenham Borough Council
The council’s discretionary business grant scheme policy was approved on Tuesday 9 June 2020.
There will be a 12-day window in which Cheltenham businesses can apply for funding.
Cheltenham Borough Council says that it expects the number of applications to exceed the available funding and encourages businesses to fill in the online application form before the deadline at midnight, 21 June.
Cotswold District Council
Applications for the discretionary business grants have now closed. Cotswold District Council state that they will confirm the award amounts on Friday 26 June.
Forest of Dean District Council
Forest of Dean District Council’s website states that applications are now closed. Award amounts will be confirmed on 26 June.
Stroud District Council
Stroud District Council’s discretionary grant fund is an application process with a closure date of 21 June.
The Council note that businesses will need to attach a copy of your bank statement, tenancy/lease and any supporting documents as part of your claim.
Click here to access the Council's Discretionary Grant Scheme Application Portal.
Tewkesbury Borough Council
The total amount of money allocated to Tewkesbury Borough Council is £883k.
Tewkesbury Borough Council note that the application form can take some time to submit, so be patient.
They also urge businesses to ensure they reach the confirmation page of the application form and that they receive a confirmation email regarding the application.
The discretionary grants fund is open for applications until midnight on Sunday 21 June 2020 and be accessed here: https://www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/forms/covid-19-discretionary-business-gran...
For more information on the range of COVID funding available to business visit: https://www.businesswest.co.uk/campaigns/trading-through-coronavirus/coping-financial-impacts
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