Businesses in the sectors hardest hit by COVID-19 can access new one-off grants to help them get through lockdown.

The Treasury announced £4.6 million in additional support to help around 600,000 firms in England stay afloat until the spring.

Firstly, businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure sectors need to be closed due to the third national lockdown in England to qualify for the latest round of support.

How much they get depends on rateable values assigned to non-domestic properties, which local councils in England use to calculate business rates bills.

Businesses that usually operate in non-domestic properties with rateable values of more than £51,000 can get grants of £9,000.

Those with rateable values of between £15,000 and £51,000 stand to receive £6,000, while firms with values of less than £15,000 can get £4,000.

The money will be available from local authorities in England, while funds are also available to devolved administrations elsewhere in the UK.

Sunak said:

“This will help businesses to get through the months ahead – and crucially it will help sustain jobs, so workers can be ready to return when they are able to reopen.”

The British Chambers of Commerce welcomed the move as a good start, but warned the money “would not be enough to save many firms” as cashflow crises deepen.Speak to us about cashflow.