Only 5 weeks remain for Stockport businesses to claim Restart Grants up to £18,000

Non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gyms in Stockport have until the 30th June to submit applications for Restart Grants.

The one-off cash grants, of up to £6,000 for non-essential retailers, and up to £18,000 for other businesses, have been designed to help businesses that have been forced to close due to Covid-19 restrictions cover the costs of reopening safely now that lockdown measures have eased.

Stockport Council has so far awarded grants to 83% of businesses that it has identified as eligible to receive the funding, and is calling for the remaining businesses in the borough to submit their applications and not miss out on the funding they are entitled to.

Businesses with a premises of a rateable value of less than £15,000 are especially encouraged to apply. So far, one-third of these business have yet to apply for the cash grants.

The size of the grant that can be awarded is determined by the rateable value of business premises, and the industry in which they operate. Details of eligibility criteria and the value of the Restart Grant a business will receive is detailed below:

Further information and details of how to apply can be found on the Stockport Council website.

What businesses are eligible to claim Restart Grants?

Non-essential retail

These are businesses that are open to the public and used for retail sale or hire of goods or services.

This includes businesses that:

• were required to close during national restrictions from January 2021
• sell directly to consumers

Hospitality

These are businesses that provide a venue for the sale of food and drink.

This includes businesses that:

• offer in-person food and drink services to the general public
• provide food and/or drink to be consumed on the premises, including outdoors

Leisure

These are businesses that provide opportunities, experiences and facilities, in particular for culture, recreation, entertainment, celebratory events, days and nights out, betting and gaming.

This includes businesses that:

• provide in-person experiences in addition to goods
• rely on seasonal labour
• operate with irregular hours during the day, night and weekends

Accommodation

These are businesses that provide lodging for holiday, travel and other purposes.

Gym and sports

These are businesses where physical exercise, training, group sporting and athletic activities takes place. This may be on an individual or group basis, using exercise equipment or open floor space.

This includes businesses that:

• offer in-person exercise and sport activities to the general public
• are open to members of the public paying an entry or membership fee
• offer exercise classes or activities

Personal care

These are businesses that provide a service, treatment or activity for the purposes of personal beauty, hair, grooming, body care and aesthetics, and wellbeing.

This includes businesses that:

• deliver in-person holistic, beauty and hair treatments
• provide services such as tattoos and piercings

Businesses that are not eligible

Businesses are not eligible if they:

• do not have a business property and do not pay business rates
• are in liquidation, dissolved, struck off or subject to a striking off notice

There are also businesses in strand two that are not eligible, these include:

• takeaway premises
• coach tour operators and tour operators
• dental services, opticians, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical/health services

How much businesses will receive

Strand one

The Restart Grant will support non-essential retail premises with one-off grants of up to £6,000.

Businesses that have a rateable value:

• of £15,000 or less on 1 April 2021 will receive a payment of £2,667
• between £15,001 and £50,999 on 1 April 2021 will receive a payment of £4,000
• of £51,000 or more on 1 April 2021 will receive a payment of £6,000

Strand two

The Restart Grant will also support hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym business premises with one-off grants of up to £18,000.

Businesses that have a rateable value:

• of £15,000 or less on 1 April 2021 will receive a payment of £8,000
• between £15,001 and £50,999 on 1 April 2021 will receive a payment of £12,000
• of £51,000 or more on 1 April 2021 will receive a payment of £18,000

Apply for a Restart Grant here.