Covid-19: Latest Updates

Business Support

The City Council continues to work hard to support businesses impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak and award grant funding to all eligible businesses in accordance with the Governments schemes, details of which are set out below.

To date, the Council has awarded over £22.1 million of funding to over 1,800 businesses in the city.

Support to Businesses

The government has set out a package of measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by Covid-19.

The latest information on these schemes and the support available to businesses can be found at www.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support

The Government has announced the forthcoming closure of the Small Business Grants Fund, the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund and the Discretionary Grants Fund.

The final deadline to apply for a grant in Lincoln will be 9am on 17 August 2020.

Please be aware that the Discretionary Grant Fund may close before this date if funds are exhausted. Notification will be posted on the City Council's website and via social media.

As of 1 August 2020, the Council has support a total of 1,805 businesses with grant funding of over £22.1 million in Lincoln. The grants have been vital to the local economy - helping to ensure the survival of shops, cafes, hotels, restaurants and many other businesses. The Council is now in the final stages of the support programme and the vast majority of eligible firms have now claimed grants. If you think that you are eligible, but have not yet been in touch with the Council about this, please do so as soon as possible.

 

Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund

In order to support as many firms as possible that have been impacted by Covid-19, the Council has made some further amendments to its policy in section 4 and to its grant assessment and award criteria in Appendix A. As a minimum, to be eligible for support, businesses must be able to demonstrate a significant fall in income due to Covid-19, with some ongoing property costs.

Applications are invited from small or micro businesses that meet all of the core criteria and in accordance with the updated Discretionary Grant Fund Policy for Phase 4 of this scheme.

The scheme is to support small and micro businesses that fall into all of the following categories: 

  • Businesses with less than 50 staff 
  • Businesses with a turnover of not more than £10.2million and/or a balance sheet not exceeding £5.1 million 
  • Businesses with relatively high ongoing fixed property-related costs
  • Businesses which can demonstrate a significant fall in income due to Covid-19 
  • Businesses which occupy property with a rateable value or annual rent or annual mortgage payment of below £51,000. In special circumstances, grants to businesses occupying property above this amount in the leisure, hospitality or manufacturing sectors will also be considered
  • Businesses that were trading on 11 March 2020 and are still active and based within the City of Lincoln
  • Businesses that are not eligible/in receipt of other Covid-19 grants (see policy for full details)

Please refer to the policy for full details and exclusions.

Online Declaration form - Before you start

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Small Business Grants Funds and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund

Full guidance is available at gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding

If you think you are eligible and have not already made direct contact with the City Council, or if you have not received an email or letter from the Council's Major Developments Team, please complete the online declaration form below.

 

Online Declaration form - Before you start

Start >
 

Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey

The Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce is calling for as many local businesses as possible to take part in its Quarterly Economic Survey for Quarter 2.

This represents the first major comparison from pre-coronavirus conditions to the current situation and the intelligence gained will guide the right decisions for the county's economy and emable further support mechanisms to be put in place.

No matter how big or small your business, the Chamber needs to hear from you all.

Take part in the Quarterly Economic Survey, which takes less than three minutes, is completely anonymous, and is open to businesses of any size.

 

Planning for Pubs and Restaurants

The government are reviewing legislative to enable planning rules to be relaxed so pubs and restaurants can operate as hot food takeaways during the coronavirus outbreak, the government has confirmed.

The measures will apply to hot food and drinks. Serving of alcoholic drinks will continue to be subject to existing licensing laws.

Permitted development rights already allow movement between one use class and another without planning permission in certain circumstances.

Businesses will be required to tell the local planning authority when the new use begins and ends.

For further advice please contact the Council's Planning Team by emailing developmentteam@lincoln.gov.uk

 

Financial Support for Artists, Creative Practitioners and Freelancers

Arts Council England, through the National Lottery, are making £20 million available to individuals working in the cultural sector, including artists, creative practitioners and freelancers.

For further information visit artscouncil.org.uk/funding/financial-support-artists-creative-practitioners-and-freelancers#section-5