Coronavirus support for Sandwell businesses: grants, relief and finance

Please note that we are no longer updating this page (May 2022).

We know the pandemic continues to have a profound impact on businesses. Here are details of grants, relief and finance available in Sandwell and nationally. Do see also our page of general business information to help you emerge from this difficult time.



>Go to coronavirus support for Sandwell businesses
>Go to our general access to finance page

Sandwell Council support

This includes:

NEW: Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant
For businesses that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed rate-paying premise in the hospitality, leisure or accommodation sector.

Additional Restrictions Grants 3 (ARG3) – THIS GRANT IS NOW CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS
A discretionary scheme providing financial support to businesses severely affected by coronavirus restrictions.

Expanded Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief/Nursery Discount

See Sandwell Council’s coronavirus grants page for details.

Government support

Recovery Loan Scheme
The Recovery Loan Scheme supports access to finance for UK businesses of any size as they recover from the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been extended to 30 June 2022 although from 1 January 2022, the following changes came into force:

• The scheme is only open to small and medium sized enterprises
• The maximum amount of finance available is £2m per business
• The guarantee coverage that the government will provide to lenders has been reduced to 70 per cent.

More support for self-employed workers
The Covid-19 government guidance for employers and businesses includes advice about short-term business rates relief and the package of government support available to businesses.

The government has a coronavirus financial support finder to help you see what loans, tax relief and grants might be available to your business.

Watch videos of recorded webinars to learn about the support still available to help you deal with the economic impacts of coronavirus.

Getting information on financial support

On Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce’s homepage, you can click on the blue button at the top right (‘COVID-19 support grid’) and access a chart showing government support for businesses and charities.

Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
Small businesses (fewer than 250 employees) can claim back the cost of providing Statutory Sick Pay (for up to 14 days) to any employee due to coronavirus.

HM Revenue & Customs held webinars on the SSP Rebate Scheme, giving employers an overview of the scheme: you can watch a video recording here.

Deferring VAT and income tax payments
The government is providing support around deferring VAT and income tax payments. If you can’t pay your business tax bill due to coronavirus you can reach the HMRC Coronavirus Helpline for free on 0800 0159 559. The line is open on Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm and on Saturday from 8am to 4pm.

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Funding support

Audit, tax, advisory and risk firm Crowe UK has a comprehensive page of advice to help businesses manage the impact of coronavirus.

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> Return to coronavirus support for Sandwell businesses

This page was last updated in January 2022.