Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant

Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant

With many businesses within the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors affected by the Omicron wave of Covid-19 in recent months, the government announced grants available through local councils to assist with the decline in footfall and increased cancellations.

Sally Reed, Managing Partner, discusses these grants in detail. More specifically, eligibility criteria, how to apply and the deadlines for applications.

What is it?

The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant provides local councils with one-off grant funding to support businesses struggling as a direct result of the rise of the Omicron variant.

Businesses in England most impacted by the Omicron variant are able to apply for one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises depending on rateable value:

• businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or above: £6,000
• businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000: £4,000
• businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or below: £2,667

In addition, more than £100 million worth of discretionary funding is also being made available for local authorities to support other businesses; such as suppliers to the above mentioned businesses.

Eligibility

The aim of the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme is to support businesses that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed rate-paying premises in addition to the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors.

Businesses excluded from the fund

You cannot get funding if:

• your business is in administration, insolvent or has been struck off the Companies House register
• you will exceed the permitted subsidy allowance
• your business is not on the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) ratings list

You must notify your local council if your situation changes and you no longer meet the eligibility criteria, for example, if you become insolvent.

Subsidy allowance

This scheme is covered by 3 possible subsidy allowances:

• Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance – you’re allowed up to £335,000 (subject to exchange rates) in Small Amounts of Financial Assistance over any rolling period of 3 financial years
• COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance – under this allowance you’re allowed up to £1,900,000 across all COVID-19 Business Grant schemes
• COVID-19 Business Grant Special Allowance - if you have reached your limits under the Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance and COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance, you may be able to access a further allowance of funding under these scheme rules of up to £10,000,000 across all COVID-19 Business Grant schemes

Grants under these 3 allowances can be combined for a potential total allowance of up to £12,235,000 (subject to exchange rates).

*If your business could be subject to the Northern Ireland Protocol, these Allowances may vary under the State aid rules.

How to apply

Visit your local council’s website to find out how to apply. You can find your local council website here.

Funding will be made available to all Local Authorities from January 2022. The scheme will close for applications later February 28th and all final payments must be made and dispersed to recipients by 31 March 2022.

Remember

New Business Grants - factsheet

The government is introducing a new grant scheme to support businesses that are experiencing difficulties because of the Omicron variant. Hospitality and leisure premises will benefit from targeted grant support. The Additional Restrictions Grant will also be topped up so local authorities (LAs) can continue to use their discretion to support other businesses in their area, based on local economic need.

Statutory Sick Pay Rebate scheme (SSPRS) - factsheet

The Statutory Sick Pay Rebate scheme (SSPRS) allows small and medium sized employers to claim the costs of up to two weeks of Covid-related SSP.

How can Haines Watts help?

We advise clients on a broad range of government grants and schemes available as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing related issues throughout Launceston and the South West.

Trying to work out if you meet the eligibility criteria is not always straight forward as you may think.

If you would like to have a conversation about these grants or have a general query, please get in touch with your usual Haines Watts contact.