Hundreds of local businesses to benefit from additional COVID-19 financial support

Under a new scheme, businesses across Barnsley who could not access previous rounds of COVID-19 financial support are set to benefit from automatic business rates relief.

The COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund will target businesses established before the start of the pandemic that have not been able to benefit from previous rate relief schemes. To qualify, your business property will need to have a rateable value of less than £51,000.

Eligible businesses will see up to a 66% discount automatically applied to their 2021/22 business rates – there is no need to apply.

Working with the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce to deliver this support, the scheme will help approximately 800 businesses in our borough.

Eligible types of businesses that will benefit from the support include business units, factories, offices, warehouses and workshops.

Councillor Alan Gardiner, Cabinet Spokesperson for Core Services, said: “We know that businesses across Barnsley have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we look to the year ahead, we want to make sure organisations across our borough can access the support they need to recover and thrive.

“We are delighted to be working with the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce to deliver this scheme for businesses who could not previously access rates relief, and hope it helps give them added security and opportunities to grow.”

Andrew Denniff, Chief Executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are really pleased to have worked with Barnsley Council to get this much-needed support out to as many businesses as possible. Whilst there are still challenges ahead, this discount on business rates for around 800 local businesses will be more than welcome.”

The funding for this scheme was made available as part of additional government support pledged in December to help businesses that have been affected by the pandemic.

If you are not eligible for the COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund, we may still be able to help your business access financial support. For more information on support available for businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit our website.