The Government recently announced additional funding aimed at businesses who were not eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund or Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Fund to support these Businesses within the Rother District. The funding is limited (£1.476m).

The Government have asked that we prioritise businesses with fixed property-related costs which can demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

·         Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces which do not have their own business rates assessment.

·         Regular market traders with fixed building costs, such as rent, who do not have their own business rates assessment.

·         Bed & Breakfasts and Guest Houses which pay Council Tax instead of business rates.

·         Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.

The amount that eligible businesses will receive will be capped at £25,000 and it is more likely that lesser amounts will be awarded to enable the funding to go further.  See attached briefing note.