Additional Restrictions Grant
The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) is a discretionary grant provided by government that will be administered by Bracknell Forest Council. It is to support local businesses that have been severely impacted by restrictions intended to stop the spread of COVID-19.
This is separate to the Local Restrictions Grant (for closed businesses) for businesses paying business rates.
Eligible businesses
Check if you are eligible for the coronavirus ARG on GOV.UK.
The ARG is available for businesses who have had to close during the second lockdown but have not qualified for the Local Restrictions Grant (for closed businesses) because they are not business rates payers.
It is also available for businesses who have not received any previous business grant funding from the council but have been significantly impacted by the national restrictions from 5 November to 2 December.
The grant is available for small to medium-sized businesses in Bracknell Forest who meet one of the criteria below:
Businesses mandated to close
Business mandated to close who:
- do not pay business rates but can demonstrate fixed costs outside of their residential property and staffing costs (such as businesses in shared offices, Bed and Breakfasts, regular market traders)
Businesses not mandated to close
Businesses not mandated to close, who meet all of these criteria:
- they are continuing to incur fixed costs outside of their residential property and staffing costs
- they can demonstrate a significant financial loss as a direct result of new lockdown measures (such as businesses supplying to those mandated to close such as the hospitality, retail and leisure industries and in the personal care, hospitality and events sectors)
Businesses that are not eligible
The following types of business are not eligible:
- businesses that can continue to trade because they can operate their services effectively remotely (such as accountants, solicitors and consultants)
- businesses that have chosen to close but have not been mandated to do so
- self-employed individuals who work primarily from home and do not face fixed business-related costs (for example, in addition to their residential property and staffing costs)
- large businesses with more than 50 employees, turnover greater than £10.2 million or balance sheet assets more than £5.1 million
- businesses that have already received maximum permitted grant payments under the de minimis and COVID-19 Temporary State Aid frameworks
How to apply
You can apply using our online form.
Payment details
Payments will be made to eligible businesses for each 4 week period in which restrictions apply in Bracknell forest.
This will include reimbursement of their actual, evidenced fixed costs incurred during each relevant 4 week period (excluding residential property and staffing costs) or the 4 week equivalent of evidenced annual fixed costs. This is up to a maximum of £3,000 per relevant 4 week period.
More information
Fixed costs
The most significant fixed costs are expected to relate to business premises.
Other regular, fixed business costs may also be eligible for reimbursement. For example, monthly loan repayments related to purchases of essential business equipment.
Monthly costs
This grant is to help with cashflow support for regular monthly costs.
You cannot use it to claim for a proportion of costs which you pay once a year but relate to the whole year.
You cannot claim for lost income
The grant is to reimburse businesses for fixed costs. It cannot be used to claim for lost income.
You cannot claim for staffing costs
This grant cannot be used to cover staffing costs.
Evidence
You will need to provide evidence that your business was trading immediately before the national lockdown restrictions on 5 November 2020 and that it trades in one of the sectors required to close during the lockdown period.
Alternatively, you will need to explain why your business has been significantly affected during the lockdown period and provide evidence to quantify that impact.
Types of suitable evidence include:
- statements for your business' bank account from before and during the national lockdown restrictions - these should show your regular fixed payments and income
- loan agreements or similar documentation
Timings
This grant is specifically for the period of national lockdown from 5 November 2020 to 2 December 2020.
We do not have funding for periods before this period.
The government have not yet given national guidance about business support under the tier system.
We plan on reviewing this grant in January and it is possible that further applications may be invited at this point.
Contact information
Revenue Services