EXTENDED SUPPORT FOR CUSTOMER FACING BUSINESSES

The Economic Recovery Group announced the extension of support measures for businesses and self-employed persons that were negatively impacted by the rise in COVID-19 cases throughout July 2021 and August 2021.

The extended support comprised an additional round of funding facilitated through the existing Business Premises Support Scheme and Coronavirus Business Support Scheme.

Support was available for those customer facing businesses who were unable to work from home and were affected by self-isolation requirements of business owners and staff or drop in customer demand.

Eligible applicants which operate from commercial premises could apply to receive either a grant equivalent to one years' rates bill for each of their commercial premises, or a single grant payment of £1,000 if their annual rates bill(s) is less than £1,000.

Eligible applicants who do not operate from commercial premises, or do not contribute to the cost of rates for the commercial premises, could apply to receive a single grant payment of £1,000.

Applicants were entitled to claim either a grant equivalent to one years’ business premises rates payment, or a lump sum payment of £1,000.

Extended Support - August 2021 

Applications for the August payment round opened on Wednesday 1st September, and closed on Friday 15th October at 5:30pm.

Extended Support - July 2021

Applications for the July payment round closed for applications on Friday 17th September at 5:30pm.

Eligible Sectors

The intention of the Scheme is to primarily support businesses in the following sectors: 

• Catering;
• Entertainment;
• Hospitality;
• Leisure;
• Lifestyle sectors, including but not limited to beauty, hairdressers, gyms and personal trainers;
• Retail (excluding any retailer that is liable to pay or will be liable to pay income tax at a 10% rate under the large retailers tax for the 2018/19 income tax year); and
• Service sector businesses including (but not limited to):
  • Animal Care;
  • Childcare;
  • Cleaning;
  • Education;
  • Healthcare;
  • Removal companies;
  • Repairs and maintenance of vehicles; and
  • Taxis and minibuses.

Excluded Sectors

Excluded sectors are any business which falls into the below sectors:

• The Finance sector including but not restricted to;
  • Banking
  • Insurance
  • Fund industry including managers and administrators
  • Accountancy services, except for those businesses with 25 employees or less where the majority of their clients are in the Isle of Man
  • Trust and corporate service providers
  • Other financial services
• Legal services, except where at least 30% of the income of the provider of those services is derived from either or a combination of conveyancing and legal aid related work;
• IT; information technology and digital, except for those businesses with 25 employees or less where the majority of their clients are in the Isle of Man;
• E-gaming etc.;
• Construction;
• Space;
• Visitor Accommodation, other than registered permanent campsites without glamping facilities;
• Utilities (including gas and telecoms);
• Property Landlords;
• Public administration;
• Tourism & Travel;
• Any retailer that is liable to pay or will be liable to pay income tax at a 10% rate under the large retailers’ tax for the 2018/19 income tax year;
• Any business that receives a significant amount of its income from Isle of Man Government in any way and including payments for underwritten events; and
• Any constituent entity of a MNE group under the Income Tax (Country-by-Country Reporting) Regulations 2017 (total consolidated group revenue of 750 million Euros or more).

Eligibility Criteria

Please read the eligibility criteria, available in Section 1.3d of the Scheme Guidance for the relevant funding round carefully to ensure your eligibility before making an application.

Potential applicants who are unsure of their eligibility are encouraged to contact the Department for Enterprise by email at enterprisesupport@gov.im, by telephone on 687333 or by completing an online enquiry form.

How to apply

Applications for this scheme have now closed. 

Additional COVID-19 Business Support

Alongside this support, businesses and self-employed individuals may also be able to benefit from the following schemes (subject to certain eligibility requirements):

• Business Adaptation Grant
• Working Capital Loan Agreement
• Disruption Loan Guarantee Agreement