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<p>The various COVID-19 business grants have all been intended to support businesses
facing high fixed property-related costs in some of the sectors hit hardest by the
fall in consumer footfall caused by COVID-19, on the basis that businesses in this
situation would find it particularly challenging to meet their high fixed property-related
costs. This is why eligibility for both the original grant schemes and the new Local
Restrictions Support Grant schemes is tied to the business rates system.</p><p> </p><p>The
Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) provides businesses which are legally required
to close with grants of up to £3,000 per month, depending on their rateable value.
A coach company occupies a property which is legally required to close due to COVID-19
restrictions, it would be eligible for this scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The Local Restrictions
Support Grant (Open) (LRSG (Open)) provides local authorities in areas subject to
restrictions on socialising, in particular a ban on indoor household mixing, with
funding so that they can make grants to businesses in the accommodation, hospitality
and leisure of up to £2,100 per month, depending on their rateable value. If a coach
company in an area where indoor household mixing is banned occupies a property classified
as an accommodation, hospitality or leisure property, it may also be eligible for
this scheme, depending on Local Authority decisions on precise eligibility.</p><p>
</p><p>Coach companies could also be eligible for a grant from the Additional Restrictions
Grant, through which all English local authorities have received additional funding
for business support worth £20 per head of population, a total of £1.1 billion across
England. It will be up to Local Authorities how to distribute this funding, but we
encourage them to make grants to businesses which are seeing severe impacts on their
business due to the national lockdown, but which aren’t legally closed. We also encourage
them to make grants to business outside the business rates system.</p>
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