ERF Restrictions Business Fund (4 December 2020)

ERF Restrictions Business Fund

On the 30 November the First Minister announced a £340m package of support directed primarily at the hospitality, tourism and related supply chain sectors.

The purpose of the fund is to support businesses into the new year with cash flow support to help them survive the economic consequences of the restrictions put in place. 

Hospitality businesses who received the Lockdown Business Grant in October via their Local Authority will begin receiving payments via the ERF Restriction Fund into their back account during December. These businesses will not be required to re-register their details.

For all other eligible businesses to receive any of the ERF Restrictions Fund, businesses will need to register their details, as well as making a short on-line application to their respective local authority for the discretionary elements. These payments will start to reach businesses in January.
 

The fund consists of two separate grants: 

ERF Restrictions Business Fund:

The ERF Restrictions Business Fund will provide the following financial assistance:

• Businesses in the hospitality sectors that are in receipt of Small Business rate relief (SBRR) and have a rateable value of £12,000 or less will be eligible for a £3,000 payment. Tourism, leisure, retail and supply chain business qualifying for SBRR will also be eligible for this support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.
• Hospitality businesses with a rateable value of between £12,001 and £51,000 being eligible for a £5,000 payment if they are forced to close. Tourism, leisure, retail and supply chain business in the same rateable value bracket will also be eligible for this support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.
• Hospitality businesses with a rateable value between £51,001 and £150,000 being eligible for a £5,000 payment if impacted by the restrictions. Tourism and leisure businesses in the same rateable value bracket will also be eligible for this support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.

How to access the ERF Restrictions Fund:

Businesses must be on the non-domestic rates (NDR) rating list for their local authority on 1 September. 

Hospitality businesses who received the Lockdown Business Grant in October via their Local Authority will begin receiving payments via the ERF Restriction Fund into their bank account during December. These businesses will not be required to re-register their details.

For all other eligible businesses to receive any of the ERF Restrictions Fund, businesses will need to register their details, as well as making a short on-line application to their respective local authority for the discretionary elements. These payments will start to reach businesses in January.

Business will be able to access the registration and application process to access the funding through the Business Wales and Local Authority websites. Further details on the process will be published shortly.

ERF Restrictions Discretionary Grant

• Local authorities will continue delivering the Lockdown Discretionary Grant to businesses that are materially impacted.  As was the case for the Firebreak, this will continue to be targeted at businesses that are not on the non-domestic rates (NDR) system and therefore not eligible for the NDR linked grants. The grant level for this strand would be set at eligible costs of up to £2,000 per business.
• This will provide support to sub VAT sole traders without a property who are materially impacted (>40% reduced turnover) as a result of the restrictions, e.g. cleaners providing services to the hospitality industry.
• Application for the grant can be accessed by visiting the relevant local authority website, or via the Business Wales website.

You are not eligible for this grant if:

• You are eligible for, or have received a Non-Domestic Rate Grant from your Local Authority
• If you have 50 or more employees
• If the business generated less than 50% of your income, the business must be your main source of income.

Applications will be dealt with on a first come first served basis. This may lead to applications not being appraised after they have been submitted if the fund is fully committed.

If you are not eligible for the above grants you may be eligible for the ERF Sector Specific Fund, more details are available on the ERF Sector Specific Support page.

FAQs - Economic Resilience Fund (ERF): Restrictions Business Fund & Sector Specific Grant page.