Welcome to the latest edition of our South and Vale Business Support newsletter!
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The government has announced that Oxfordshire has been allocated to the ‘High Alert’ Tier 2 level. This is for areas with a higher or rapidly rising level of infections, where some additional restrictions need to be in place.There will be certain new restrictions in place, taking effect from 00:01 on Wednesday 2 December. The government will review the current tier allocations by Wednesday 16 December.
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- Non-essential shops can reopen, as can personal care businesses such as hairdressers, gyms and the wider leisure sector. Businesses and venues are required to operate in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those which remain closed by law, such as nightclubs
- Pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals
- Hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:
- provide table service only, in premises which sell alcohol
- close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport services and motorway service areas are exempt)
- stop taking orders after 10pm
- Hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm, as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
- Early closure (11pm) applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm
Full government guidance can be found here. |
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Businesses can apply for the Additional Restrictions Grant if they have received funding from the previous government COVID-19 grant schemes, excluding the Local Restrictions Support Grant (for closed businesses).
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The Additional Restrictions Grant (Discretionary Grant Fund) has been introduced to support those who are ineligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (for closed businesses).
Eligible businesses are able to apply for a grant of £2000.00.
The application form is very simple and quick to complete, taking less than 20 minutes.
Who is eligible?
- Businesses that are legally required to close, but do not pay business rates
- Businesses that are not legally required to close, but have been severely impacted by new restrictions
Who is ineligible?As per the government guidance, a business is ineligible for this scheme if it:
- was not trading immediately prior to 5 November 2020
- is in administration, is insolvent or a striking-off notice has been made AND/OR
- has already received grant payments equal the maximum state aid limits (a business cannot receive more than 800,000 euros in a three-year period)
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If you are ineligible for the grant scheme, please take a look at our Resources page for additional support.As Oxfordshire has now been placed into Tier 2, there will be further support available in due course. We will promote all details of upcoming grant schemes through our newsletter.
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