Coronavirus Restrictions Business Support Scheme

The Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme is a new support scheme from the Department for the Economy. It is designed to provide support to those businesses directly impacted by the Northern Ireland Health Protection Regulations, which came into force on Friday 16 October.

The Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme is administered by Invest NI on behalf of the Department for the Economy (DfE).

The Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme (CRBSS) will operate in two parts.

Part A - A business that is required to close or cease trading under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 but is not eligible for the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme.
Part B - A business that is not named in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020, but which supplies goods or services to such a business, or is reliant upon such a business being open and fully operational in order to trade.

Applications to Part A of the CRBSS will close at 6pm on Friday 27 November 2020.

Applications to Part B of the CRBSS will close at 6pm Thursday 10 December 2020.

Eligibility Part A

CRBSS Part A is open to any business that can meet the following criteria:

A business named within the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 as required to close/cease trading, but is not eligible for the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme. Examples of this might include a business that delivers its product or service on a mobile basis or operates from their home, or their customers’ homes, for example, a driving instructor or mobile hairdresser or beautician.
A business operating in Northern Ireland and was trading at the time the restrictions came into effect on 16 October 2020. For businesses based in the Derry City & Strabane District Council area, this date is 5 October 2020. Based means your business address must have a Derry City & Strabane District Council postcode.
The income lost as a result of your business having to close or cease trading is your main source of income - ie accounts for more than 50% of your income.

Check your eligibility for CRBSS Part A

Eligibility Part B

The following businesses are eligible for CRBSS Part B:

A business that supplies goods to a business named in the Health Protection Regulations. This includes businesses that supply the goods directly or via a wholesaler or intermediary. If you are a food business or drink producer, you must be registered with your local Council in order to be eligible for support.
A business that provides services to a business named in the Health Protection Regulations. This includes businesses that provide the services directly or via a subcontractor.
A business dependent on a business named in the Health Protection Regulations being open and fully operational in order for it to operate. For example, businesses that supply services for weddings or events that have been cancelled or postponed due to the restrictions being in place.

To qualify, any business that meets the criteria above must:

Be based and operating in Northern Ireland and have been trading immediately prior to 16 October 2020.
Have seen their turnover decline by at least 40% as a result of a business or businesses they supply, or rely upon, being named in the Health Protection Regulations.
Declare that the income lost was the main source of income, accounting for more than 50% of the total income.

Check your eligibility for CRBSS Part B

Payments

Businesses that are required to close but are not eligible for LRSS are eligible for a grant of £600 per week.

Businesses that are not required to close but are within the supply chain of businesses restricted by the Regulations and significantly impacted will be eligible for a grant of up to £800 per week. They must demonstrate that they are in the direct supply chain of one or more businesses restricted by the Regulations and have been significantly impacted. This element will open at a later date.

Eligible businesses are subdivided between those paying business rates and those not paying business rates.

Businesses paying business rates and experiencing a significant decline in turnover will receive a grant based on the Net Annual Value (NAV) of the premises they operate from:

£400 per week for businesses with a NAV that does not exceed £15,000
£600 per week for businesses where the NAV exceeds £15,000 but doesn’t exceed £51,000
£800 per week for businesses where the NAV exceeds £51,000

The grants paid to businesses not forced to close but adversely impacted are equivalent to 50% of the grant payable under the LRSS.

Businesses not occupying commercial premises and experiencing a significant decline in turnover can apply for a grant of £300 per week. This is equivalent to 37.5% of the LRSS grant paid to businesses in restricted premises with a NAV that does not exceed £15,000. These grants will be made in a second tranche of payments at a later date.