Advice for businesses as Sheffield enters Tier 3 restrictions

Sheffield will enter Tier 3 after national lockdown, the ‘very high’ alert level for Coronavirus restrictions, along with the rest of South Yorkshire, from 00:01 on Wednesday 2 December.

Restrictions on trading

Businesses in the following sectors will be closed:

• All hospitality including pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes (but can still offer a takeaway service)
• Indoor entertainment and tourist venues including betting shops, indoor play centres, museums, cinemas and theatres
• Accommodation (unless they are exempt)

The following businesses can reopen or operate with restrictions:  

• All retail
• Personal care (such as hairdressers)
• Leisure and sports facilities – with the exception of indoor classes
• Places of worship – with social interaction limited to your household or support bubble

Businesses providing services in people's homes are permitted to carry out work in a COVID-secure manner whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines.

The full list of restrictions is available here.

Further household restrictions apply in Tier 3 and people must not socialise with anybody they do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, in any indoor setting, in any private garden. People must not socialise in a group of more than six in an outdoor public space.

Financial support

We are seeking guidance from Government on what funding will be available to businesses forced to close under the new Tier 3 restrictions. We will share details of this as soon as possible.

An overview of the financial support currently available is below.

Lockdown Support Grants

Lockdown support grants of up to £3,000 are still available to businesses who have been unable to trade due to the current and previous national lockdown and local restrictions.

This includes hospitality, entertainment, leisure and sport facilities, non-essential retail and health and beauty sectors, as well as community halls and accommodation.

Businesses who have been forced to close their primary business under these restrictions but are operating as either a takeaway or click and collect service are still eligible to apply for the grant. 

• Apply here if you are a rate-paying business
• Apply here if you are a non-rate-paying business

Supply Chain Grants

A new grant will launch next week to support businesses that largely rely on the hospitality, accommodation, leisure and entertainment sectors for their trade, and have therefore suffered a significant loss of trade due to Covid-19 restrictions. Grants of up to £2,100 will be available depending on a business’s fixed property costs. Further information on eligibility and how to apply will be issued early next week. 

Restart and Recovery Fund

A new £1.1m Restart and Recovery fund, available from Wednesday 2 December, will help businesses who have been unable to trade conventionally during the Covid-19 lockdowns to adapt using technology and other initiatives.

Businesses will be able to apply for the Restart and Recovery support fund to implement more effective ways of working, trade online or employ initiatives to build customer confidence.

Payments will be made on a first come, first served basis and businesses are being urged to prepare their applications now. More information is available here.

Help and support

The Business Sheffield team of advisors are on hand to help answer business queries regarding restrictions, closures and grants. Businesses can contact the team on 0114 224 5000 or email businesssheffield@sheffield.gov.uk.

Businesses wishing to stay informed with the latest updates, should sign up to  Sheffield City Council’s email alert service and follow Business Sheffield and Sheffield City Council’s social media channels.

The current most comprehensive advice and guidance for Sheffield businesses can be found online at: www.sheffield.gov.uk/coronovirus-business.