A new round of grant funding aims to provide a vital injection of financial support to hospitality, leisure, and accommodation businesses impacted by the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant, announced by the Chancellor on 21 December 2021, outlines eligibility criteria for one-off grants of up to £6,000 for businesses within this sector, dependent on the rateable value of their premises.
To qualify for this grant, businesses must:
- Provide in-person services to the public from the VOA-rated premises; the main service and activity of the business must take place on these premises
- Have been trading on 30 December 2021
- Have been the liable party for business rates at the premises on 30 December 2021. Businesses on the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) ratings list which are zero-rated or exempt are included as eligible
- Not be in administration, insolvent, or where a striking-off notice has been made
- Be in the hospitality, leisure, or accommodation sector
The following classes of business are specifically excluded:
- Food kiosks, takeaways, and businesses whose main service (generating 50% or more of total income) is a takeaway
- All retail
- Coach tour operators, and tour operators
- Dance and fitness studios, sports centres and clubs, sports courts, swimming pools, golf courses
- All gyms and sports businesses where physical exercise or training is conducted on an individual basis or group basis
- Private dwellings, education accommodation, residential homes, care homes, residential family centres
- Beach huts
There is no open application process for this grant. Businesses which have previously been awarded a COVID-19 business grant have been assessed against the eligibility criteria, and those eligible have been contacted via email to outline the action required to claim the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant.
The deadline to act is Tuesday 15 February 2022. All eligible businesses invited by email are advised to take the required action as soon as possible.
Cllr Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, said: “On behalf of Fylde Council, I am delighted to be able to announce this latest round of grant support for local leisure and hospitality businesses. The impact of the Omicron variant on business in these sectors has been another blow to their prosperity, and this new grant underlines Fylde Council’s commitment to ensure that our business owners not only survive but continue to thrive. I encourage all eligible business owners to check their email inboxes and take action to claim the grant promptly.”
Those with businesses who believe they are eligible but have not received communication from Fylde Council should visit the dedicated OHLG webpage to read the full criteria and access details of how to contact the Council with the information required to access the grants process.
This scheme is a central Government grant with eligibility criteria set by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Fylde Council have no discretion on the criteria for the grant.
For further details, including eligibility criteria and what to do if you believe you are eligible but have not received an email, please see the Fylde Council website: Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (fylde.gov.uk)
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