COVID-19 - Government support for businesses
The Government provides a range of support for businesses and organisations which are affected by coronavirus restrictions. We recommend you first check the Government’s support finder tool to get an understanding of what support is available to you.
It can be complicated to know which grant or grants to apply for, particularly because restriction guidelines have changed so rapidly over recent months.
You may be able to apply for multiple grants. To make it easy to apply for grants that you may be eligible for, we recommend you:
- browse through each date period below
- select a business description that matches yours
- click through to the grant application page(s), where you can read more about eligibility and make your application
Alternatively, you can view a list of available grants, and click through to their respective pages.
Please note before applying:
- The names of the grants, and most of the eligibility criteria, is set by the Government and not by Swindon Borough Council.
- You must complete a Universal Business Grant Property Form (UBG) for each business property before applying for any grants. You will find a link to the the UBG form on each grant application page.
- We are experiencing very high numbers of applications, which are taking some time to process. We understand this is a difficult time for you and ask for your patience while we work as quickly as possible to process applications.
Find grants by date:
From April to June 2021 - Restart Grants
From 16 February to 31 March 2021 – Extended national lockdown period
From 6 January to 15 February 2021 – National lockdown period
31 December 2020 to 5 January 2021 - Tier 4 period
2 December to 30 December 2020 – business either open or shut throughout both Tier 2 and Tier 3 periods
26 December to 30 December 2020 – just Tier 3 period
2 December to 25 December 2020 – just Tier 2 period
From 5 November to 2 December 2020 – Previous national lockdown period
23 March 2020 to 5 January 2021
Browse grants by name:
In Swindon, the following grant schemes are currently available. Click through to the relevant pages for eligibility details and how to apply:
- Restart Grants for non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care or gym and sports businesses - 1 April 2021 – 30 June 2021 (Restart1APR): This grant is aimed at business properties used for non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care or gym and sports. Applications close on 30 June 2021.
- Discretionary Restart Grant: A one off grant paid to businesses without a live business rates account with Swindon Borough Council who have previously received an Additional Restrictions Grant (version 1 and/or 2). The application window for this grant has now closed.
- Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum: 16 February to 31 March 2021 (LRSGCA5JANX): This grant is aimed at businesses which have remained closed and subject to national restrictions. The application window for this grant has now closed.
- Additional Restrictions Grant - Version 2: This grant is being used both to top up the LRSGCA5JAN grant and is for businesses not eligible for the LRSGCA5JAN grant but have lost income. If your business is eligible, you will receive a one-off fixed payment of £2,000 per business property. The application window for this grant has now closed.
- Additional Restrictions Grant – Taxi driver sole traders: For sole trader private hire or hackney carriage taxi drivers who are licensed by Swindon Borough Council. The application window for this grant has now closed.
- Discretionary grant for tourism, leisure, hospitality and non-essential retail businesses (Additional Restrictions Grant Version 3) - 16 February 2021 onwards: A one-off grant for businesses which are told to close under the national restrictions and do not have a business rates account with Swindon Borough Council (so are not eligible for the LRSGCA5JAN extension). If your business is eligible, you will receive a one-off fixed payment of £500 if you work from home or share a commercial space, or £1,500 if you occupy a whole commercial property. The application window for this grant has now closed.
- Discretionary grant for tourism, leisure and hospitality suppliers (Additional Restrictions Grant Version 3) - 16 February 2021 onwards: A one-off grant for businesses which are not required to close under the national restrictions but directly supply tourism, hospitality or leisure businesses. If your business is eligible, you will receive a one-off fixed payment of £500 if you work from home or share a commercial space or £1,500 if you occupy a whole commercial property. The application window for this grant has now closed.
- Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum: 5 November to 2 December 2020 (LRSGCA5NOV): This grant is aimed at businesses which were mandated to close during the previous national lockdown period. The application window for this grant has now closed.
- Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed): Wet-led pubs (establishments which derive less than half their income from food sales) which have been told by the Government to close between 2 December 2020 and 30 December 2020. The application window for this grant has now closed.
- Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open) (LRSGO): Businesses in the hospitality, accommodation and leisure industry which remained open but were severely affected by the local restrictions in Swindon from 2 December 2020 to 30 December 2020. The application window for this grant has now closed.
- Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum Tier 4: For businesses affected during the period when Swindon was under Tier 4 restrictions, from 31 December 2020 to 5 January 2021. The application window for this grant has now closed.
- Local Restrictions (sector) Support Grants (LRSGS): For nightclubs, discos and adult entertainment venues required to close for the entire period from 23 March 2020 to 5 January 2021. From 6 January 2021 LRSGS ceased temporarily and businesses should also apply for the LRSGCA5JAN grant, below. The application window for this grant has now closed.
- Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum: 5 January onwards (LRSGCA5JAN): This grant is aimed at businesses which have remained closed and subject to national restrictions. The application window for this grant has now closed.
- Closed Business Lockdown Payment (CBLP): A one-off payment for businesses which have been required to close from 5 January 2021 due to national restrictions. The application window for this grant has now closed.
- Christmas Support Payment for wet-led pubs: A one-off payment of £1,000 for wet-led pubs in Swindon. The application window for this grant has now closed.