What is the new grant?
On 21st December the Government announced additional support that would be made available to help businesses who have been impacted by the Omicron variant.
The new grant is available to the hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses that have and are still experiencing economic difficulties and will be issued as a one-off grant.
How much will be received by businesses?
Eligible businesses must be on the local rating list and will receive their one-off grant based on the rateable value of their business premises on 30th December 2021.
Bank details must be for a UK bank account and where the business is a limited company, the limited company details must be provided.
Who is eligible for this funding?
Businesses on the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), meaning their premises are registered to pay tax, and who are the ratepayer on 30 December 2021.
In addition, where the business offers in-person services and the main service falls within hospitality, leisure, or accommodation and the business was trading on 30 December 2021.
The definition of hospitality is where the business’ main function is to provide a venue for the consumption and sale of food and drink.
In terms of leisure, this is where the business provides opportunities, experiences, and facilities, in particular for culture, recreation, entertainment, celebratory events and days and nights out.
For accommodation, this is where the businesses whose main lodging provision is used for holiday, travel, and other purposes.
Although not an exhaustive list, please see below a list of the types of businesses that can be supported under the new scheme.
Hospitality
-Food courts
-Public houses/pub restaurants
-Restaurants
-Roadside restaurants
-Wine bars
-Cafés
Leisure
-Casino and gambling clubs
-Cinemas Museums and Art gallaries
-Stately homes and historic houses
-Theatres zoos and safari parks
-Amusement parks
-Wedding venues
-Events venues
-Night clubs and discotheques
-Arenas
-Concert halls
-Tourist attractions
-Theme parts
-Amusement arcades
-Softplay centres or areas
-Indoor riding centres
-Clubs and institutions
-Village halls, scout and cadet huts etc.
Accommodation
-Caravan parks
-Caravan sites and pitches
-Chalet parks
-Coaching inns
-Country house hotels
-Guest houses
-Hostels
-Hotels
-Lodges
-Holiday apartments
-Cottages or bungalows
-Campsites
-Boarding houses
-Canal boats or other vessels
-B&Bs
-Catered holiday homes
-Holiday homes
Who is excluded from this funding?
The definition of a hospitality business should exclude food kiosks and businesses whose main service (generating 50% or more of income) is a takeaway. This does not include those businesses who adapted to offer takeaways during periods of restriction.
In terms of leisure businesses, this should exclude all retail businesses, couch tour operators and tour operators.
For accommodation businesses this should exclude private dwellings, education accommodation, residential homes, care homes, residential family centre and beach huts.
In addition, any business in the following circumstances will not be eligible for the grant:
-Businesses who were not trading on 30th December 2021
-Businesses that are not within the ratings system
-Businesses that have already received payments equal to the maximum permitted subsidy allowance (previously known as state aid)
-Business that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking off notice has been made.
How to apply.
To apply for the grant, you will need to contact your local authority. Each council will have a webpage to allow you to create an application specifically for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant.
Please be mindful that not all Local Authorities receive funds at the same time so some may not yet be available.
The scheme closes on 28th February 2022 with final payments being made before the end of March.
If you have any questions regarding the above, please contact one of the team on 01482888820