Welcome to the latest edition of our South and Vale Business Support newsletter!


We are aware that there are a growing number of businesses who have been ineligible for the current COVID-19 government grants, or they have been unsuccessful in their application.


To try and help as many of our local businesses as we can, we have opened up the Discretionary Grant Fund for a second round.


The Discretionary Grant Fund (DGF) is aimed at businesses that were not eligible to claim the initial government COVID-19 grants linked to rates relief.



The levels of grant funding available are as follows:

Micro businesses – £5,000
Small businesses – £10,000


For the second round of funding, we have exercised a greater level of discretion to meet the needs of our small businesses who have so far been ineligible for the government grants.

Any of our small businesses can now apply, including home-based businesses, as long as they meet our eligibility criteria.



What criteria has been removed?


In the first round of funding we adhered to the national mandatory criteria, which meant that we prioritised the following:

  • On 11 March 2020, the business occupied a shared office, flexible workspace or individual unit located in our districts which did not have its own business rates assessment on 11 March 2020. This includes but is not limited to units in industrial parks, science parks, incubators and business parks OR


  • Is a Bed & Breakfast which pays Council Tax instead of business rates, OR


  • Is a charity property in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.


Once applications have been assessed, decision letters will be emailed to applicants.


Successful applicants will need to sign the acceptance letter and return this to the council by email. Once we have received this letter, the grant will be paid.

We strongly recommend that you:

Some businesses based in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse are ineligible for the current government grants or have been unsuccessful in their applications, so we've put together a list of alternative funding streams and ways that you can help to let people know about your services.

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South Oxfordshire District Council   |  Vale of White Horse District Council
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