Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) - updated 26 March 2021

An initial scheme relating to businesses affected by the second national lockdown concluded in December 2020 and we provided grants to over 50 local businesses.

Following the government's announcement on 4^th January 2021 that there would be another national lockdown the Council has received further funds from government to be paid out on a discretionary basis. These funds will be paid over to eligible businesses in the form of a Supplementary Winter Lockdown Grant    

In recognition of the significant impact of another national lockdown on businesses across Fenland the eligibility criteria have been simplified as far as possible to enable a range of businesses not entitled to the Local Restrictions Support Grant and the Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment to claim a grant. Where businesses do not qualify for the Local Restrictions Support Grant and the Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment they will be eligible for the Supplementary Winter Lockdown Grant if:

• the business received a grant from the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme which the Council was administering between April 2020 and September 2020 (the amount received would have been £10,000 or £25,000); or
• the business would have received a grant from the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme based on their business rates registration as at 5 January 2021, i.e. as at 5 January 2021 the business was in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief or the expanded retail discount; or
• the business received one or more discretionary business grants paid by the Council in relation to schemes in place between June and August 2020 and in November - December 2020 (various amounts paid based on the eligibility criteria in place); or
• the business can demonstrate with appropriate evidence that it is responsible for fixed costs associated with occupying its business premises and/or that it has experienced a drop in revenue, sales or income equivalent to £3,000 which amounts to a reduction of 50% in either the current lockdown or the November lockdown compared to a relevant period when lockdown restrictions have not been in place.

All eligible businesses must confirm they are currently trading from an address in Fenland or intend to resume trading when permitted to do so.  Businesses with multiple properties which are registered for business rates can obtain a grant for each property providing no property has a rateable value in excess of £51,000.

Eligible businesses will each receive a grant of £4,500. Where businesses received £2,457 as per decisions taken previously, a top-up payment of £2,043 will be paid out shortly.

Apply for a grant

Apply for a Supplementary Winter Lockdown Grant

Queries relating to the grants available should be sent to discretionarybusinessgrants@fenland.gov.uk