Coronavirus - support for businesses
We understand that in these unprecedented times of uncertainty, many small business owners are very concerned about how their business will be supported whilst people are following the government’s social distancing advice.
UK Government advice for businesses
The government have set up a webpage for businesses where all the latest advice and guidance can be found.
Access UK Government business support
Business support from North Devon Plus
If you would like to speak to a business advisor about your cash-flow, business planning or general business support you can contact our business support agency, North Devon+.
Expanded retail discount
Which properties will benefit from relief?
Properties that will benefit from 100% retail discount are to include the following;
- shops (such as: florists, bakers, butchers, grocers, greengrocers, jewellers, stationers, off licences, chemists, newsagents, hardware stores, supermarkets, etc)
- charity shops
- non-local authority childcare providers
- opticians
- post offices
- furnishing shops/ display rooms (such as: carpet shops, double glazing, garage doors)
- car/caravan show rooms
- second-hand car lots
- markets
- petrol stations
- garden centres
- art galleries (where art is for sale/hire)
- hair and beauty services (such as: hair dressers, nail bars, beauty salons, tanning shops, etc)
- shoe repairs/key cutting
- travel agents
- ticket offices eg. for theatre
- dry cleaners
- launderettes
- PC/TV/domestic appliance repair
- funeral directors
- photo processing
- tool hire
- car hire
- restaurants
- takeaways
- sandwich shops
- coffee shops
- pubs
- bars
- cinemas
- live music venues
- sports grounds and clubs
- museums and art galleries
- nightclubs
- sport and leisure facilities
- stately homes and historic houses
- theatres
- tourist attractions
- gyms
- public halls
- clubhouses, clubs and institutions
- hotels, Guest and Boarding Houses
- holiday homes
- caravan parks and sites
- estate agents
- lettings agencies
- bingo halls
The list set out above is not intended to be exhaustive.
The letters and revised bills in relation to the businesses being awarded the expanded retail discount have been sent out to eligible businesses.
Cash grants for businesses
Latest update: Monday 23 March
It has been announced that cash grants will be made available to businesses. We are still awaiting details regarding this from central government, which we anticipate receiving this week.
We will set out clear advice for the payments of these grants as soon as this information is received.
To support the many small businesses which pay little or no business rates because of Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) the Government has promised to provide £10,000 cash grant to business across the country which are currently eligible for either SBRR or Rural Rate Relief, to help meet their ongoing business costs.
A £25,000 grant will also be provided to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses operating from smaller premises, with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000.
Full government guidance is available on their business support pages.
We are waiting detail from central government on the administration of these grants, this is expected within the next few days. To be clear, the government are not expecting payments of these grants to be made until early April. We are currently identifying all the potentially eligible businesses so that we are in a position to make as many payments as possible as soon as the funding comes through to us.
As soon as we have both the guidance and funding from government we will implement these payments quickly, knowing how important this will be in supporting your business at this critical time.
You can also email economicdevelopment@northdevon.gov.uk to request more information about Coronavirus-related business grants when it becomes available.
