There’s still time to apply for the business rates relief scheme

Applications will close at the end of April so businesses are being encouraged to apply as soon as possible so they do not miss out.

The scheme, which is offering a total of £4.8m of funding to businesses across the borough, is being administered by Rotherham Council.

Businesses that have suffered a negative financial impact from the Covid-19 pandemic during the 2021/22 financial year can now apply for business rates relief.

Applicants will be able to apply for rates relief of 50%, up to a maximum of £6,000, until the application window closes on 30 April 2022.

All claims will be assessed after this date, when the total award will be reviewed and applied.

Dependent upon the number of successful claims received, the relief award could be increased above the current maximum of £6,000. So please ensure you get your application to the Council.

The Council scheme will follow Government criteria for the awarding of grants, which states that the Council must:

• not award relief to ratepayers who for the same period are or would have been eligible for the Extended Retail Discount (covering Retail, Hospitality and Leisure), or the Nursery Discount.
• not award relief to a business premise for a period when it is unoccupied (other than hereditaments which have become closed temporarily due to the government’s advice on COVID-19, which should be treated as occupied for the purposes of this relief), and
• direct their support towards ratepayers who have been adversely affected by the pandemic and have been unable to adequately adapt to that impact.

To qualify for a grant, businesses must have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and must not be eligible and/or in receipt of another discretionary relief scheme. Businesses must have been in occupation of their premises on 31 December 2021.

Businesses in the following sectors do not qualify:

• Public sector organisations
• Banks
• Utilities
• Advertising Units
• Petrol Stations
• Sports Facilities and Grounds

Example businesses that could apply (not limited to):

• Community Centres
• Factories
• Offices (Commerical/Educational/Industrial etc)
• Workshops
• Retail Warehouses
• Vehicle repair workshops and premises

For further information about who can and cannot apply, or to apply for the grant, go to the Council’s website.