Discretionary Business Grants

The discretionary fund will support businesses who have fixed costs and have been affected by COVID-19.  The intention of the grant is to support small businesses with high premises-related costs that fell outside of the original grant scheme.

The level of funding provided by Government is only anticipated to cover 50% of the money that Plymouth City Council estimates is needed to support businesses. We are closely following Government criteria to allocate and process these grants.

Applications will open on Monday 1 June 2020.

Find out more on the Discretionary Business Grants page.   

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Business Grants

Updated 23 April

For the past few weeks we’ve been working hard to process and pay business grants, and so far have paid over 3,000 businesses their Coronavirus business support grant funding.

Our priority now is to contact and speak to the almost 1,000 businesses who haven’t yet responded to their business grant application letter. We’re doing this by contacting businesses directly, working with our partners who have relationships with identified businesses on our list and by identifying the premises who have had a change of occupancy and may need details updating.

We want to get this funding to businesses who need it as quickly as possible so if you think you may be eligible or know a business who may be, please check our eligibility criteria and contact our business grant helpline on 01752 308984.

The Small Business Grants Fund and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund, announced by the Government as part of a £330 billion package of support, offer one-off grants to a number of businesses:

• Any business currently in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief will be eligible for a £10,000 grant.
• Any retail, hospitality or leisure business in receipt of Expanded Retail Discount with a rateable value of less than £51,000 will be eligible for a grant per property based on eligibility criteria below:
  • Any retail, hospitality or leisure business with a rateable value of £15,000 or below will be eligible for a £10,000 grant.
  • Any retail, hospitality or leisure business with a rateable value above £15,000 and below £51,000 will be eligible for a £25,000 grant.

Council finance and business staff have calculated that almost 3,500 businesses across the city will qualify for grants of up £10,000, while around 540 businesses will qualify for grants of £25,000.

Our aim is to process as many grants as quickly as possible, so we need to stagger the flow of enquires. 

          

  

  

     

       

      

Frequently Asked Questions

What is it?

COVID-19 Business Grants:

• Small Business Grant Fund
• Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant

Grants will be provided for Plymouth businesses via Plymouth City Council.

           

Who is eligible?

Any business currently in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief may be eligible for a £10,000 cash grant.​​​​​

Any retail, hospitality or leisure business in receipt of Expanded Retail Discount with a rateable value of less than £51,000 will be eligible for a cash grant per property based on eligibility criteria below: 

• Any retail, hospitality or leisure business with a rateable value of £15,000 or below may be eligible for a £10,000 cash grant.
• Any retail, hospitality or leisure business with a rateable value above £15,000 and below £51,000 may be eligible for a £25,000 cash grant.

Exclusions:

• Businesses in breach of de Minimis State Aid limits are not included in this scheme
• Businesses in receipt of Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure) with a rateable value of £51,000 or over are not eligible for this scheme
• Businesses which are not ratepayers in the business rates system are not included in this scheme

           

How will I know if I’m eligible?

Businesses that are eligible for this support will receive a letter from Plymouth City Council Business Rates team. All letters have been sent by 26 March 2020 to the registered business address, so you should receive your letter by Tuesday 31 March at the latest. View the eligibility flowchart here to assist.

             

I can't access my business premises to get my letter what do I do?

Visiting your business premises to collect your letter is considered a legitimate reason to leave the house, and Police have been informed that these letters have been sent out to business addresses. You can find contact details below so that you can get in touch with us to make alternative arrangements to receive your letter, if you aren't able to collect it or it hasn't arrived. 

             

How do I apply?

Complete the online application form that was provided in the letter.

To apply you’ll need:

• Your Business rates account number
• Unique Grant reference number from your letter from Plymouth City Council
• Your business bank details and an image of your business bank statement or cheque book

Where possible and you are able, please complete this online form to ensure that we’re able to process forms and support as quickly as possible.

      

Need more assistance?

If you are:

• unable to complete the form online,
• haven’t received a letter or are unable to access your business premises but believe your business is eligible

Please contact the Plymouth City Council Business Grant helpline on 01752 308984.

To help our team, please have your Business Rates account number (8 characters, beginning with a 7) ready before calling if possible. 

We expect this number to be busy, so if you have received your letter and are able to complete the form without assistance then please do so. This will enable us to help those who do not have online access or need some help in other ways. 

Helpline opening hours

Monday to Friday: 9am to 6pm

Please note: the helpline will be closed on bank holidays.

        

I don’t know if my details are up to date or my rateable value, what do I do?

Not sure of your rateable value, need to update your business rates account with new details or want to check which address your letter will be sent to?

Find out more here: https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/businesses/businessrates

           

How long will it take to process my application?

           

Once I’ve applied when will I receive the money?

Payments will be made direct into your business bank account within 10 days once information has been received via your application form and verified by our anti-fraud checks.

            

I know another business who I think is eligible but they may not be aware, what can I do to help?

Please share this information with any of your fellow businesses who you feel may be eligible for this grant support and encourage them to look for their letter or email, if they are able to do so.