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


Following on from the Prime Minister's announcement on 22 February, the Government has confirmed details of the next payment period for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum, providing ongoing funding for rate paying businesses that have been forced to close due to the national lockdown.


The second payment cycle covers 16 February to 31 March 2021. The levels of grant funding are as follows:

  • Businesses with a rateable value £15,000 or less may be eligible for £2,096

  • Businesses with a rateable value over £15,000, but less than £51,000, may be eligible for £3,143

  • Businesses with a rateable value £51,000 or above may be eligible for £4,714

Our business rates team will shortly email all eligible businesses to confirm the payment process and their grant allocation during the week commencing 8 March, if not before.


Please note that there are currently no actions that businesses need to take. If you have not received an email by 31 March, please let us know so that we can arrange for you to apply directly for this funding.


Please keep an eye on our newsletter for further updates.



Our Additional Restrictions Grant is open for applications from businesses who have been ineligible for the other COVID-19 grant schemes.


The scheme closes for applications at midday on 31 March 2021, or when available funds are exhausted. We will send out an update via our newsletter if all funding has been allocated before the deadline. 
Mental health support for business owners

We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on our local business owners and their mental wellbeing.


We’re receiving lots of messages from local business owners who would like some support with their mental health. If you or someone you care for are experiencing a mental health crisis, we urge you to make contact with a local health professional immediately.

To help, we’ve put together a list of organisations that can help you to navigate your way through this difficult time.

View the list on our website.
More help for Self Assessment taxpayers

Self Assessment taxpayers will not be charged a 5 per cent late payment penalty if they pay their tax or set up a payment plan by 1 April, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced.

The payment deadline for Self Assessment is 31 January and interest is charged from 1 February on any amounts outstanding. Normally, a 5 per cent late payment penalty is charged on any unpaid tax that is still outstanding on 3 March. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, taxpayers have more time to pay or set up a payment plan.

Find out more here.
Free employee wellbeing risk assessment 

South Oxfordshire-based company face2faceHR has teamed up with WeThrive to offer businesses a free employee wellbeing risk assessment, assisting them with their COVID-19 recovery plans.

The survey will uncover where there may be an impact to employee engagement and wellbeing in four key areas which influence our feelings at work.

The survey will provide an engagement and wellbeing risk ‘heat map’, recommendations for your businesses, curated learning resources and more.

Discover the benefits for your business here.

Find out more by reading the Business and Innovation Strategy Action Plans 
on our SVBS website.

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