Due to limited applications made for the Strategic Businesses scheme previously, the criteria has been changed. A new application window has been set up to support more medium and large businesses.

Eligibility

To qualify for a grant, businesses must

• be a medium or large business which employs over 20 people
• have been severely financially impacted by the pandemic with a reduction in business income of at least 25% during a period of at least 6 months compared with similar comparable periods of trade
• be able to demonstrate tangible outputs for recovery (capital expenditure is not permitted)
• not have received a Local Restrictions Support Grant or previous Additional Restrictions Grant.

How much support eligible businesses will receive

Strategic businesses

Grants to eligible businesses can be up to £25,000 in order to enable tangible outputs for recovery. This fund is a competitive process and each application will be assessed against the scoring matrix with recommendations made for approval by the Award Panel. As such only those with the highest scores from the Award Panel will be funded within the budget allocated. Applicants will be notified of decisions following the assessments after the end of the application window.

Download the ARG 4 - Strategic Businesses Round 2 application form to apply.

The application window was open from 10 January 2022 until midnight on 24 January 2022.

Please read the Additional Restrictions Grant Scheme for full details.

Exclusions

Businesses that:

• are in administration, insolvent or where a striking off notice had been made
• have exceeded the UK’s subsidy arrangements
• do not operate from a Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole premises
• have received a Local Restrictions Support Grant or previous Additional Restrictions Grant.

State aid

The EU State Aid rules no longer apply to subsidies granted in the UK following the end of the transition period. The United Kingdom, however, remains bound by its international commitments, including subsidy obligations set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) with the EU.

We can still pay out subsidies under previously approved schemes and this includes subsidies related to COVID-19 that have been previously given under the EU State Aid Temporary Framework. Businesses should have made themselves aware of their obligations under Government’s subsidies arrangements before applying to this scheme.