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Advice and support

Our Business Advice and Support page has more information on other types of financial help available.

Empty Property

Business Rates will not be payable for the first three months that a property is empty. After the three month period rates will be charged at 100% unless the property is exempt e.g. Listed buildings, empty properties owned by charities and community amateur sports clubs. NB. Industrial property will be exempt for 6 months, or has a rateable value of less than the following limits:

  • Up to 31 March 2009                    RV 2,200
  • 01 April 2009 - 31 March 2010     RV 15,000
  • 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011     RV 18,000
  • 01 April 2011 - 31 March 2017     RV 2,600
  • From 01 April 2017                       RV 2,900

In brief, office and retail premises receive 100% relief for the first three months, and industrial and warehouse premises will receive 100% for the first six months, from when the property becomes empty.

All rate relief for these properties will end after this time and Non Domestic Rates will be chargeable in full. You can find more information about business rates at the My Business Rates website.

Partially Empty Property

If only part of the premises is being used, it may be possible to reduce the amount of business rates that are paid. If you wish to claim this relief you should contact us immediately, and we will arrange for one of our Visiting Officers to visit your premises. 

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme 2024/25

As per The Autumn Statement on 22 November 2023 the Chancellor announced an extension to the 2023/24 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Rates Relief Scheme providing relief of 75% up to a cash cap limit of £110,000 per business to eligible occupied retail, hospitality and leisure properties in 2024-25.

Business Rates Relief: 2024/25 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Small Business Rate Relief

  • To qualify your property's rateable value must be less than £15,000
  • Your business only uses one property - you may still be able to get relief if you use more 

Qualifying businesses with a rateable value of £12,000 or below currently get 100% relief. This relief will decrease on a sliding scale for rateable values between £12,000 to £15,000. In addition, such businesses will have their bill calculated using the small business rates non-domestic rates multiplier.

Qualifying businesses with a rateable value between £15,001 - £51,000 will have their bill calculated using the small business rates non-domestic rates multiplier.

If you wish to apply, the please complete the online Application for Small Business Rate Relief

Rural Rate Relief

Businesses in a Rural Settlement could qualify for Mandatory or Discretionary Rural Rate Relief on their Non Domestic Rates bill. 

In all cases, the business must be used for purposes which are of benefit to the local community. A list of the areas that are designated Rural Settlements is available on our website or at our shops at Malvern, Tenbury Wells and Upton.

pdf View Rural Settlement list (6 KB)

Mandatory Rural Rate Relief

To qualify for 100% Mandatory Rural Rate Relief, your business premises must:

  • Be within the boundaries of a qualifying rural settlement.
  • Have a rateable value of not more than £8,500 in the case of a Post Office, general store or food shop.
  • Have a rateable value of not more than £12,500 in the case of a public house or petrol filling station.
  • Be used in whole or in part, as a general store, Post Office or both, or as a public house, food shop or petrol filling station.
  • Be either the only general store, the only Post Office, the only public house or the only petrol filling station in the rural settlement.

Complete the online Mandatory Rural Rate Relief application form

To qualify for Mandatory Relief, the business premises must be the only Post Office, general store, public house or petrol filling station in the rural settlement. Food shops may also qualify for relief and do not need to be the only food shop in the rural settlement.

Please note: if you do not qualify for Mandatory Relief, you may still qualify for Discretionary Relief dependent on meeting certain criteria.

Discretionary Rural Rate Relief

We may grant up to 50% relief to any general store, food shop, Post Office, public house or petrol filling station which does not qualify for the Mandatory Rural Rate Relief.

A business can apply for Discretionary Rural Rate Relief of 50% provided that it:
1. Is within the boundaries of a qualifying rural settlement.
2. Has a rateable value of less than £16,500.
3. Is used for purposes which are of benefit to the local community, and
4. Is reasonable for us to make such a decision having regard to the interests of persons liable to pay Council Tax set by it.

Complete the online Discretionary Rural Rate Relief application form

Charitable and Discretionary Relief

Registered charities, charitable organisations and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASC's) are entitled to relief from rates on any non-domestic property, that is wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes.

  • Relief is given at 80 per cent of the bill. We have the discretion to give a further 20% relief on the remaining bill depending upon what the premises are used for.
  • We also have the discretion to give up to 100% discretionary relief on all or part of any rate bill, for property occupied by certain non-profit making organisations for example; sports clubs, societies, village halls and youth associations.

Complete the online Mandatory and Discretionary Rate Relief application form

You can get further information on Rate Relief by visiting the My Business Rates website.

Hardship Relief

Businesses may be entitled to a reduction from rates if they are suffering hardship, and they can show that the local community would suffer a loss if the business was to close. As each case needs to be determined on its merits, please contact us for further information.

Contact

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone: 03004 560 560.

Don't forget: if you move into, out of, or within Malvern Hills you need to let us know as this will affect your bill. You can also find further information about Business Rates on the Businesslink website.

What Happens If I Don't Pay?

If, for any reason, you don't pay your Business Rates on time we are legally obliged to issue documents advising you of this and warning you what could happen next. 

What document you get depends on how many times you have missed your payment. It could be a reminder, final notice or a summons.

If you receive a summons then the matter is likely to go to court where we will be applying for a liability order. 

A liability order gives us various powers to help us recover the debt:

  • Distress (removal of goods to pay a debt)
  • Bankruptcy/Winding Up
  • Committal to prison

If you have problems paying your business rates please contact us - we may be able to make a special arrangement with you.

What If I Can't Pay?

The most important thing to do if you are having problems paying your business rates is to contact us.  The longer you leave it the more costly it's going to be. Costs and charges can add a lot to your original bill so contact us to avoid them. We can check if you are entitled to any reductions and reduce your bill by applying them to your account. We can also make a special arrangement with you to help you spread your payments.

Reminder and Final Notice

Business rates payments should reach us on the day the instalment is due at the latest.

This will be the 1st or 15th of the month. If you receive a reminder, you must bring your account up to date within seven days. If you fall behind a second time you will not be sent a second reminder.

If you fall behind a second time you will receive a final notice. This confirms that you have lost the right to pay by instalments and all of your business rates for the year must be paid immediately.

Summons and Court

If you have received a final notice and your business rates remains unpaid, we will take further recovery action to obtain the money due. This is done through the Magistrates Court. You will be sent a summons that will tell you how much money you owe and when the hearing will be. You will be charged costs for the issue of the summons.

You can attend court on the date given on the summons and speak to the Magistrates. You do not have to go to court if you don't want to - the decision is yours. At the court hearing we will ask the Magistrates to issue a liability order against you. This can be done even if you are not present.

Liability Order

A liability order gives us powers to recover the money you owe. These are:

  • Taking control of goods to pay a debt. We employ Enforcement Agents (Bailiffs) to collect the debt. More costs will be added to your debt. In some circumstances your goods will be removed and sold.
  • Bankruptcy/Winding Up. We can start proceedings against you through the County Court.
  • Committal to Prison. Unlike almost every other debt, you can be sent to prison for up to three months for not paying your business rates. Even if you have other debts where you are being pressed for payment, it is vital that you make payment of your business rates a priority.

Please Note: committal to prison applies to individuals not to limited companies.

Business Advice

In this section, you will find a range of advice and support to help your business. If you need any further information or help with signposting to appropriate advice and support, call the Economic Development Team on 01684 862351 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Use the links below to find the information you need:

Worcestershire Growth Hub

We work in partnership with Worcestershire Growth Hub, part of the Government-supported growth hub network, bringing all aspects of business support into one place, making it clear and simple for businesses to access and find the help they need.  

For more information; call 01905 677 888 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Business Briefings

Malvern Hills District Council is engaging with local businesses through a series of regular Business Briefing events. Each event will typically be focused on a topic of interest, and there will also be an opportunity for businesses to share their views on how the council can best support them, and to discuss any issues they may currently be facing, as well as an opportunity for networking.

If you are interested in attending and would like to be added to the distribution list for event details, please contact the Economic Development team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Supporting Business Leaflet

Download our latest pdf Supporting Business leaflet 2023/24 (3.04 MB)  which provides a useful summary of how we are helping develop businesses, create jobs and grow the economy.

Commercial Property and Inward Investment

We would be happy to assist with any commercial property or inward investment enquiries. Contact the Economic Development Team on 01684 862351 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Skills Support

Together with our partners, we have developed a Skills for Growth programme to help businesses recruit, train and retain their future and existing workforce. For more information, please call 01684 862351 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Economic Data / Statistics

View the Nomis Labour Market Profile for Malvern Hills district. This includes key datasets on population, employment, unemployment, qualifications, earnings, benefit claimants and businesses.

Download the latest Worcestershire County Economic Summary produced by the Worcestershire County Council Research Team.

Grants and Funding

Please visit Grants and Funding for details of the various schemes available to support your business.

Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership

The Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is an independent collaboration between local councils, local business, trade organisations and the voluntary sector. Its role is to help develop a business environment in Worcestershire which will encourage inward investment, stimulate the region's economy and to identify and promote appropriate projects for funding.

Visit the Worcestershire LEP website for more information. 

Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Established in the 1830's during the industrial revolution, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce remains a dynamic member-led, not for profit organisation, working to support the local business community and specifically their 1400-strong network of member businesses.

Visit the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce website for more information.

The Prince’s Trust

The Prince’s Trust deliver an Enterprise Programme which aims to support unemployed young people aged between 18-30 to work out if self-employment is right for them, help them test their ideas, write plans and start a business or achieve alternative goals in employment, education, training or voluntary work.

Find it in Worcestershire

Find it in Worcestershire is the place to find local supply chain opportunities within the County.

Set up in 2011, the free to use service offers local businesses the opportunity to meet local suppliers at our monthly breakfast meetings, as well as pitching for work directly on the Find it Portal.

With a membership of over 8,500 local businesses and opportunities posted worth £200million, Find it really is the place to do Business in the County.

Visit the Find it in Worcestershire website for more information.

Invest in Worcestershire

Visit the Invest in Worcestershire website to find out about the very latest information on what Worcestershire has to offer for investors from the UK and around the globe.

Information on the website includes; funding and support available, key sectors, Worcestershire’s skills offer, lifestyle and schools, infrastructure and vision. The website also features live investment opportunities for businesses and investors of all sizes, as well as information on the new ‘Worcestershire Embassy’ in London.

For further information and to contact the inward investment team, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Worcestershire Workforce Planning Programme

Support your workforce to become future-ready through Workforce Planning. Worcestershire County Council, Worcestershire Growth Hub and Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership are committed to supporting the County's workforce, and businesses, to thrive in our future world of work.

As part of this commitment, they have released the Workforce Planning Platform. This is a FREE online tool which has been designed to help businesses tackle workforce challenges such as recruitment, ageing population, skills shortages and more.

Worcestershire Workforce Planning Programme

 

Business Rates

If you have had a change in your circumstances which will impact your Business Rates account, please advise us by completing our online Change in Circumstances form

Business Rates Revaluation

Revaluation 2023 and Transitional Arrangements (2023)

All rateable values are reassessed at a general revaluation. The next revaluation will come into place on 1 April 2023. Revaluations make sure each ratepayer pays their fair contribution and no more, by ensuring that the share of the national rates bill paid by any one ratepayer reflects changes over time in the value of their property relative to others.

A transitional relief scheme limits changes in rate bills as a result of the (2023) revaluation. Under the transitional scheme, limits continue to apply to yearly increases until the full amount is due (rateable value times the appropriate multiplier). The scheme applies only to the bill based on a property at the time of the revaluation. If there are any changes to the property after (2023), transitional arrangements will not normally apply to the part of a bill that relates to any increase in rateable value due to those changes.

Changes to your bill as a result of other reasons (such as changes to the amount of small business rate relief) are not covered by the transitional arrangements. The transitional arrangements are applied automatically and are shown on the front of your bill. Further information about transitional arrangements and other reliefs may be obtained from your local authority or the Introduction to Business Rates page on the Government website. Find out more information on the (2023) revaluation.

At the Autumn Statement on 17 November 2022, the government announced a new transitional relief scheme. The scheme for 2023/24 will restrict increases in bills to 5% for business with small properties (up to and including £20,000 rateable value, 15% for rateable values between £20001 up to £100,000 and 30% for rateable values over 1000,000).

Business Rates were introduced on 1 April 1990 at which time all business premises were valued and their Rateable Values were entered into a local rating list. The Business Rate legislation allows for business properties to be revalued every five years. The last revaluation took effect from 1 April 2017. For more details visit www.gov.uk/voa/revaluation. You can also find information for businesses at the following place:
 

Local Rating List - A new list came into force on 01 April 2017. 

You can also see the valuation list with a copy of your entry by visiting the Valuation Office website. The Valuation Office, who are part of the Inland Revenue, are responsible for setting the rateable values.

If you have any queries regarding your rateable value you should contact them. Further information on business rates can be found at the Businesslink website.

What are Business Rates? 

Business rates is a local tax that is paid by the occupiers of all non-domestic/business property, in the same way that council tax is a tax on domestic property.

Business rates are charged on most business properties such as shops, offices, pubs, warehouses and factories. However, the property doesn't have to be used for a business - if it is used for purposes which are not domestic it is likely to be rateable.

Roles and responsibilities

The Valuation Office Agency sets the rateable value of business premises by using property details such as rental information. We use the rateable value and the business rates multiplier (set by central government) to calculate your business rates bill. 

What is the Rateable Value?

The rateable value is assessed by the Valuation Office Agency, which is an agency of HM Revenue and Customs. 
A property's rateable value is an assessment of the annual rent the property would rent for if it were available to let on the open market at a fixed valuation date.
  • Until 31 March 2017, the rateable values will be based on a antecedent valuation date of 1 April 2008.
  • From 1 April 2017, the rateable values will be based on the antecedent valuation date of 1 April 2015.
  • From 1 April 2023, the rateable values will be based on the antecedent valuation date of 1 April 2021
If you think your rateable value is incorrect, you can find and view your property details here: 

Useful information

Contact us for more information

Procurement

Our procurement contracts are awarded on the basis of what is the most economical solution. We encourage local company's to compete for our procurement contracts.

Most of our business is covered by formal contractual arrangements, which we publicly advertise our invitations to tender.

Current tenders and opportunities

E-tendering portal

Use our e-procurement portal to receive email updates on new contract opportunities and express an interest.

Proactis ProContract portal

For technical/ navigational queries about the portal please contact ProContract on 01937 545070 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you require any other assistance please contact  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For further information on procurement please contact:

Caroline Smith
South Worcestershire Procurement Manager
Wychavon District Council 
Tel: 01386 565433

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