RYA welcomes new Government grant for businesses affected by local lockdowns

10 Sep 20
 

Government has announced that businesses, such as sailing clubs and Recognised Training Centres (RTCs), which have been forced to close temporarily due to local COVID-19 related lockdowns may be eligible to receive a grant of up to £1,500 for every three weeks that they are closed.  

The financial support has been announced by Government in an attempt to protect jobs and encourage businesses to follow COVID-19 restrictions. 

Local authorities will be responsible for distributing the grants to businesses in circumstances where they are closed due to local interventions. Each new three week local lockdown period that is announced by Government will trigger an additional payment to businesses in that area.

There will be two levels of the grant available, the largest businesses (classified as occupying a premise with a rateable value of £51,000 or above, or occupies a property or part of a property subject to an annual rent or mortgage payment of £51,000 or above) will receive £1,500 every three weeks that they are required to close. Smaller businesses (classified as occupying a premise with a rateable value less than £51,000 or occupies a property or part of a property subject to an annual rent or mortgage payment of less than £51,000) will receive £1,000 for the three weeks that they are closed.

As with other COVID-19 business grants, the new local grants given to closed businesses will be treated as taxable income. 

Mandy Peters, RYA Legal Manager, said: “The RYA welcomes this new financial support for businesses affected by local lockdowns. Although the majority of clubs and centres are currently now re-open following the national lockdown we must not overlook those that are still experiencing local restrictions and financial hardship.

“We would urge Government to also consider the self-employed within our industry that are also badly affected by local lockdowns, but are not eligible for this financial support.” 

For more information about all the financial support packages available to UK businesses and self-employed individuals, please visit the Coronavirus Hub on the RYA website. For further information on this grant please visit GOV.UK.

If you are a RYA Affiliated Organisation/RTC and have any questions regarding applying for a business grant or require further legal advice, please email: legal@rya.org.uk or call: 023 8060 4223.