We're available to help businesses navigate their way through the available support.
If you have any concerns contact our team of advisors:
- telephone 0114 224 5000 or
- email businesssheffield@sheffield.gov.uk
Latest government guidance
The Government’s roadmap to exit lockdown began on 8 March 2021. There were changes to restrictions on 12 April.
Find out how your business will be affected, if you should remain closed and what you need to do if you stay open from the government's website.
Coronavirus resources
We've created a range of resources to help you reopen your business safely, including posters, checklists and how to make QR codes.
Grants
Restart Grant
The Restart grant is for businesses that:
- were trading on 1 April 2021
- have fixed property costs (rent or RV)
- have been forced to close under the government restrictions
- and have not already received a lockdown grant
Payments will be backdated to 16 February 2021 and will include the restart grant.
If you have already received a lockdown grant
Do not apply. We will pay your Restart Grant automatically to you.
How to apply:
- Rate-payers - use the lockdown business support grant (rate payers) form
- Non rate-payers - use the discretionary lockdown business support grant form
Lockdown Business Support Grant (rate payers)
Personal care businesses - restart grant payments
If you have already been paid a restart grant of less than £8000 email: businesslockdowngrant@sheffield.gov.uk
A grant for businesses:
- registered for business rates
- forced to close under tier 3 restrictions or national lockdown
Discretionary Lockdown Business Support Grant (non rate payers)
A grant for businesses:
- not registered for business rates
- forced to close under tier 3 restrictions or national lockdown
Loans
Rent relief is only available for non-residential council tenants. If you are not a council tenant please do not contact us.
We're providing the following support for council business renters during the pandemic:
Arrears enforcement
- we have suspended enforcement action for arrears under 90 days until 23 August 2020
Exclusions
Action is delegated to the Chief Property Officer on a case by case basis for:
- Ground rents,
- Agricultural rents,
- Telecoms rents and payments
- and any other property type not covered above
Service charges
- will be reduced for tenants where possible to reflect reduced costs of operating buildings (eg due to business closures)
- service charges need to be paid in full unless a deferral is specifically authorised by the Chief Property Officer
We will assess each application on an individual basis, taking into account:
- the type of business and its circumstances
- whether it has been told to close by the Government
- if it is affected by any general restrictions on businesses or movement.
Council tenants of commercial retail, food and beverage and leisure premises
- Rents & Service Charges will be deferred until 29 September 2020 (ie the June quarter for rent)
- all deferrals will be subject to application and assessment
Council tenants of commercial industrial, office and workshop premises
- rent and service charges can be deferred until 29 September 2020 (ie the June quarter for rent)
- all deferrals will be subject to application and assessment
Voluntary/community groups on leases, tenancies or licences with the council
- a further period of rent suspension to 29 September 2020 (ie the June quarter for rent)
Support measures
Business rates holiday
The issuing of Business Rates bills for 2021/22 is delayed based on advice from Government. This follows announcements in the Chancellor’s Budget speech regarding the extension of business rates relief for certain types of businesses into 2021/22.
Details on when bills be issued and the impact that the announcements will have on businesses in Sheffield will be given once we have further information from Government on the relief extension.
For business rates advice contact business.rates@sheffield.gov.uk.
Charities support
The Charity Commission has produced advice for the charity sector.
Applications to the Coronavirus Community Support Fund are now closed but the National Lottery Community Fund is continuing to fund projects and organisations supporting communities through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Self-employed people
You may be able to claim against the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme if you:
- are self employed or a member of a partnership
- and adversely affected by covid-19 on or after 14 July 2020
There are two rounds of grants available to cover:
- November 2020 to January 2021
- February 2021 to April 2021
You will be able to apply for from 30 November 2020.
Statutory Sick Pay relief
Changes have been made to Statutory Sick Pay so that people suffering from coronavirus can take the necessary time off to stay at home or to prevent it's spread:
- employers with fewer than 250 employees will be able to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay for employees unable to work because of coronavirus
- this refund will be for up to 2 weeks per employee
VAT deferral scheme
The VAT payments deferral scheme ended on 30 June 2020.
Businesses who deferred VAT due between 20 March and 20 June can now opt-in to:
- pay in smaller payments over a longer period
- take up to end of March 2022 to pay in full
Those that can pay their deferred VAT can do so by 31 March 2021.
If you are still unable to pay the VAT due and need more time contact the HMRC Coronavirus helpline on 0300 200 3835.