CHANGES to the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) scheme, mean that domestic businesses and those who hold a Tameside taxi licence may now be eligible for a one-off payment of £1,500.
The value of ARG payments for commercial businesses has also been increased due to additional funding made available by the Government and to encourage more applications.
Tameside domestic based businesses trading on October 22, 2020, with fixed business costs that can be evidenced, and that have been impacted by Covid-19 may be eligible for the payment.
Domestic based business would include those operating from non-commercial premises for example: self-employed, sole traders, limited companies, public companies, limited liability partnerships or community interest companies.
Examples of domestic businesses that could be eligible for the ARG payment (not exclusive)
- Driving instructors
- Mobile hairdressers
- Event industry businesses (DJs, musicians)
- Personal trainers
- Market traders not on the Tameside regular trading list
- Cultural businesses delivering events
- Professionals based at home (eg accountants, architects)
- Allied trade (eg builders)
For domestic based businesses, the ARG cannot replace income but can cover fixed business costs. Evidence of costs will be required when applying for the grant, for example:
- Business insurances
- Public liability insurance
- Professional indemnity
- Professional body fees
- Proof of trading in the relevant period
Tameside Taxi Licence holders would be eligible for the grant payment, this includes taxi drivers who have a Tameside licence but do not live in the borough.
Taxi drivers who are residents but hold their licence with another local authority would only be eligible if they declared they had not received funding from another local authority scheme.
Tameside businesses operating from a commercial premises (with a rateable value or fixed property costs like a rental agreement) and that have been detrimentally affected by the Covid-19 pandemic may be still eligible for the ARG funding, such as:
- Salon based hairdressers/beauticians
- Non-essential retail
- Suppliers/wholesale, convenience shops
- Childcare providers with reduced numbers
- Manufacturers with less trade
The value of ARG grants has increased due to additional funding made available by the Government.
Businesses that have already received an ARG grant will have received an automatic top up, and business owners do not need to re-apply.
The scheme closes on May 31 or before if funding exhausted.
For more information and to fill in the application form go to: www.tameside.gov.uk/supportforbusinesses
The full range of grants available to Tameside businesses can be seen here: https://www.tameside.gov.uk/businesssupport/granttable