The government has launched a series of new incentives to assist firms in England’s hospitality and leisure industries that have been harmed by the Omicron variant.
Eligible firms may apply for one-time assistance grants of up to £6,000 per company location.
In addition to this assistance, local governments will be given an additional £102 million in discretionary funds to help other firms.
Businesses will need to apply to their local governments for this money, and further information on how to do so will be available shortly.
This round of awards is designed for hospitality enterprises, which include lodging, food and beverage services, and recreational facilities.
Recipients must be financially stable enterprises that pay rates in the hospitality and leisure sectors, such as pubs, hotels, restaurants, bars, theaters, and amusement parks.
Grants will be offered depending on the rateable value of commercial property in the following ways:
| Rateable value £ | Grant available £ |
|---|---|
| 0 to15,000 | 2,700 |
| 15,000 to 51,000 | 4,000 |
| over 51,000 | 6,000 |
The government would also provide an extra £102 million in discretionary support to local governments. The use of this funds is at the discretion of the Local Authorities and is designed to assist companies who are affected by COVID-19 but may not be eligible for the hospitality and leisure award.
“We recognize that the spread of the Omicron variant means firms in the hotel and leisure industries are suffering enormous uncertainty at a critical moment,” said Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak. So we’re stepping in with £1 billion in assistance, including a new grant programme, the reinstatement of the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme, and further funds from the Culture Recovery Fund.”
With many hospitality companies experiencing a terrible winter season, this is really good news that might give critical assistance to help them get through the tough times.