Petition · past parliament

COVID-19 'Small Business grants' for serviced office users registered with HMRC

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

small businesses with overheads to pay whilst unable to fully operate during this crisis, are excluded from the small business grants fund (SBGF) solely due to business rates being incorporated within service contracts.While some may be temporary users we must protect those with long term agreements
Contractual offices solely for the purpose of their business, majority first year sole trader. Some investing all of their savings, find themselves not qualifying for schemes which will help cover their overheads.
These businesses range from online retailers to service providers. Pressure increasing from landlords for rent, they need help, and they need it fast! We propose those with 'long term' leases qualify in the same way as those businesses who pay their business rates directly!

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

You may wish to sign this petition calling for the same action: Extend grants immediately to small businesses outside of SBRR

You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:

www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips

You can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here:
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/

You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/

Read letters asking further questions of Government Ministers: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/

Timeline

28 Mar 2020 Petition opened for signatures
20 Apr 2020 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21
Status Rejected
Rejected 20 Apr 2020

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.