Discretionary Restart Grants

Is my business eligible?

Discretionary Restart Grants are for:

Read our Discretionary Restart Grants Policy for further details.

Closed non-rated businesses could include:

  • Non-essential retail (including animal groomers with unrated premises).
  • Hospitality in unrated premises – this does not include food kiosks and take-away only businesses.
  • Accommodation in unrated premises.
  • Personal care facilities and close contact services, such as rent-a-chair hairdressers, mobile beauticians and driving instructors.
  • Entertainment in unrated premises.
  • Leisure in unrated premises.

Open businesses (rated and non-rated) need to be able to meet the business impact criteria including demonstrating a 20% loss of income over the recent lockdowns and can be described as one of the following:

  • Operate in a closed sector (for example retail), but are considered essential (for example a deli that relies on serving lunches to office workers).
  • Rely on a closed sector for their trade (for example a cake maker supplying restaurants and coffee shops)
  • Cannot deliver the same level of consumer services (service cannot be delivered online) due to social distancing requirements (for example a plumbing, cleaning or electrical service business).
  • Ordinarily supply good/services direct to the consumer and welcome customers onto their premise to order/view goods, but do not have a fixed shop front (e.g. a carpenter that welcomes commissions from the public from a workshop).

Businesses that are not eligible for a Discretionary Restart Grant include:

  • Businesses that do not qualify for either the ‘Open for Business’ or ‘Closed for Business’ grant schemes*.
  • Businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum permitted subsidy allowances.
  • Businesses that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made.
  • Car parks and parking spaces.
  • Premises occupied for personal use only.
  • Vacant premises.
  • Any business that applies after the grant scheme expiry date (TBC).

*Rated dog groomers, that were not eligible for a 'closed for business' grant, are now eligible for a Restart Grant (scroll down to find out more).

Which strand is my business in?

In line with the Government’s Restart Grant Scheme, there are two funding strands for the Discretionary Restart Grant that recognise certain businesses will likely take longer to reach full operation as the COVID-19 restrictions lift.

The strands for the Discretionary Restart Scheme include, but are not limited, to:

Strand one:

  • Non-essential retail (such as market traders or online retailers).
  • Mobile tradespeople (such as cleaners or electricians).
  • Unrated or home-based recruitment agencies.
  • Unrated garages/showrooms.
  • Unrated or home-based travel agencies.
  • Engineering/fabrication/carpenters/manufacturers etc.
  • Mobile or unrated animal groomers.

Strand two:

  • Hospitality (such as cafés in shared spaces and chefs).
  • Pubs tenants (unrated situations).
  • Personal care (such as hairdressers and beauticians).
  • Leisure, gym and sports (such as personal trainers or coaches).
  • Event organisers and events support companies (including retail/food at events).
  • Entertainment companies (such as wedding or event entertainment).
  • Driving instructors, taxis and chauffeurs.
  • Kennels and catteries.
  • Coach companies.

How much funding will my business get?

Strand one businesses will receive up to*:

Rateable value

One-off Restart Grant Payment

Below £15,000 or no rateable value

£1200.15*

£15,001 - £50,999

£1,800*

£51,000+

£2,700*

Strand two businesses will receive up to*:

Rateable value

One-off Restart Grant Payment

Below £15,000 or no rateable value

£3,600*

£15,001 - £50,999

£5,400*

£51,000+

£8,100*

*Please note: The above grant levels are indicative and could be subject to change. The Council will not be responsible if grant levels are changed at a later date, and there is no grounds for appeal if a business receives a lower than published grant level. All grant payments are subject to tax.

Do I have to apply for the Restart Grant?

If your business is eligible, and you received a ‘non-rated closed for business grant’ or an ‘open for business’ grant for any lockdowns/tiered measures since November 2020, you will not need to apply again for a Discretionary Restart Grant.

The government has however asked us to gather the following data from businesses before awarding the grant:

  • Name and address of the business.
  • The date the business was established.
  • The number of employees working for the business.
  • Check the business is still trading/intends to trade when the restrictions are lifted.
  • Confirmation the business bank details have not changed.

The government had not previously asked us to collect this data from businesses, so we will need to gather it before making payments.

We have contacted all eligible businesses to request this data.

What if I did not receive a 'Closed for Business' or ‘Open for Business’ grant? 

If you did not apply for a closed or open for business grant, you cannot apply for a Discretionary Restart Grant yet.

If the Council receives a further sum of Additional Restrictions Grant funding in July 2021, we may offer businesses who have not applied before the opportunity to apply for a Discretionary Restart Grant.

This is not guaranteed and further details will be published to this page should the Council receive further funding.

If you applied for a closed or open for business grant after 16 April and before 31 May 2021, you will be considered for a Restart Grant if you are eligible for a closed or open grant. Your claim for the closed/open and Restart Grants will only be considered if the Council receives a further tranche of ARG funding in July. If you applied before 31 May, you may be considered for an extended spring lockdown payment in addition to the Restart Grant payment - see 'closed for business' or 'open for business' for more information.

What if I received a Rescue Grant?

If you received a Rescue Grant you are not eligible for a Discretionary Restart Grant, but we will consider a Rescue Restart Grant scheme should the Council receive a further sum of Additional Restrictions Grant funding in July 2021. This is is not guaranteed and further details will be published to this page should the Council receive further funding.

When will I receive the Discretionary Restart Grant?

We are processing Restart Grant payments from w/cs 14 June and 21 June 2021. The majority of payments will reach business bank accounts by 25 June or 2 July 2021 (last updated 21/06/2021).

What if I’m a rated dog groomer?

If you are a rated dog groomer, and were previously awarded a discretionary ‘open for business grant’, you will be moved across to the Government’s rated Restart Grant scheme and your grant will be automatically awarded once you have provided the required information (employee number, established date, trading confirmation).

If you are a rated dog groomer who did not previously apply for the ‘open for business’ grant scheme, please email business.grants@southderbyshire.gov.uk so we can advise you - no later than 30 June 2021.

If you are a non-rated dog groomer, and were previously awarded a discretionary ‘open for business grant’, you will be awarded a Discretionary Restart Grant, when you have provided the additional required information (see above).

Any questions?

Read our Discretionary Restart Grants Policy for further details. If you have any further questions, please email business.grants@southderbyshire.gov.uk.

Our team is on hand Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 8.45am and 5pm, Wednesdays between 9.30am and 5pm, and Fridays between 8.45 - 4.30pm.