Welcome to the latest business newsletter

In this edition, you’ll find:

  • Urgent action required from you for business grants
  • Updates regarding new business grant schemes
  • EU Transition support for local businesses
  • Other support available in Swindon

Urgent action required for business grants
As Swindon has changed Local Restrictions Tiers several times over recent weeks, often quite quickly, we have been required to frequently change the business grants schemes on offer, often with very little notice. We know this means that you, as a business owner, may have spent a lot of time trying to establish which scheme is applicable and then filling out numerous long applications forms.

So, to try and make things easier, we have redesigned the process and would now like your help to collect some useful information about your business. This will then mean that each time a new scheme is introduced by the Government, we will use this data to determine which business is eligible for each scheme. If your business is believed to be eligible, you will then be sent a very short form simply asking you to confirm your details which will help us process and pay eligible applicants much quicker.

With this in mind, we’d like you to spend a few minutes completing this COVID-19 Business Grant Property Form for each Swindon property which has been impacted by the pandemic. Please take time to review the questions and attach all the documents required, as incomplete forms will take much longer to process.

This form is for all types of business directly impacted by the restrictions, including businesses, sole traders, charities, Town and Parish Councils, in all types of property, both with or without a direct live business rates account, commercial and those working from home.

If you have any questions or concerns about completing the form, please email support@swindon.gov.uk.

We are due to launch three new business grant schemes next week, details of these can be found below. In the meantime, please fill out the form mentioned above so that we can collate information about your business and determine which grants you may be eligible for, which we hope will make the process much more straightforward.

Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG)

This discretionary scheme is designed for businesses which have lost income due to COVID-19 restrictions. Recipients of the previous ARG scheme will be contacted directly about these new grants.

Local Restrictions Support Grant Closed Addendum (v2)

This scheme is designed for businesses which are required to be closed by law and which have live business rates accounts. The criteria and grant levels for this scheme are set by the Government. We are expecting to receive the guidance from Government next week so will provide further information once we have it.

Closed Business Lockdown Payments

This scheme will provide one-off additional payments to recipients of the above LRSGCA(v2) grant. Again, criteria and grant levels are set by Government and we hope to receive more information early next week.EU Transition support for Swindon and Wiltshire businessesOur colleagues at the Swindon & Wiltshire Growth Hub have launched a fully-funded programme of EU Transition support for local businesses. The programme includes referrals to specialist advice and a series of webinars until end of March 2021.

For any enquiries, please call 01249 477 288 or email support@swlep.co.uk.Other support available in SwindonThe Swindon and Wiltshire Growth Hub has advice available for businesses in Swindon. Find out more on the website and arrange to speak to an advisor.

Business West uses business experts to offer guidance and support through the ‘Trading through Coronavirus’ website.

The Federation of Self-Employed and Small Businesses also offers excellent advice and events here, as does the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, details can be found on their site.

Information on the support available for Swindon residents can also be found on our website here.