Grants available to hospitality and leisure businesses affected by Omicron

Following the Government's announcement in December, businesses impacted by Omicron in Stratford-on-Avon District can now apply for the funding from a new grant scheme.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has received £2.7M from Government for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme, enabling support to struggling businesses during the pandemic.

Businesses in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors in England will be eligible for one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises, those eligible for payment include, but are not limited to:

• Public Houses/Restaurants/cafes
• Cinemas/Theatres/Tourist attractions/Night clubs
• Hotels/B+Bs/Holiday homes

Cllr Jo Barker, Homes, Health & Well Being Portfolio Holders says: "We know times are still hard for businesses.  This new scheme continues to support businesses across the District.  The District Council has already paid over £72 million in grants and reliefs throughout the pandemic and this grant is for those businesses directly impacted by the Omicron variant. And although restrictions are gradually lifting, I'm sure this will be a welcome boost for businesses.

"We must stress to businesses that the clock is ticking to get applications in as soon as possible. Businesses need to ensure they are eligible for a grant and provide all required evidence as part of their application. The window for applications is only a few weeks so please make your application before the deadline on Sunday 13 February."

Business will need to submit an application via the website and ensure that all the supporting evidence is also include: Additional Business Support Grants | Stratford-on-Avon District Council

The deadline to apply for a grant is Sunday 13 February 2022

The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant will be a one-off payment based on the rateable value (RV) of premises as follows:

• Businesses occupying premises with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under on December 30, 2021 will receive a payment of £2,667.
• Businesses occupying premises with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on December 30, 2021 will receive a payment of £4,000.
• Businesses occupying premises with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or over on December 30, 2021 will receive a payment of £6,000.

In addition to this, £350k discretionary funding support is now available for other businesses, for those business not eligible for the main scheme. 

Applications for the Additional Omicron Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) are now open.

Who is eligible?
Applications will only be considered from businesses that undertake their trading activity within the following sectors (this list is not exhaustive):

• hospitality
• accommodation
• leisure
• personal care
• travel and tourism
• wedding industries
• nightclubs
• theatres
• event industries
• wholesalers
• breweries
• gyms
• childcare

Businesses must:

• have been actively trading on 30 December 2021
• not be in administration
• not be insolvent
• not have a striking off notice made against it
• be based in the Stratford-on-Avon District Council Area
• be able to confirm its eligibility under the scheme conditions and subsidy control regulation
• not be in receipt of a grant award from the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure scheme

The Government and Stratford-on-Avon District Council will not accept deliberate manipulation and fraud. Any business or individual caught falsifying records to gain grant money will face prosecution and any funding issued will be subject to recovery.

All eligible businesses need to apply for a grant regardless of whether they've applied to previous grant schemes or not via the website - https://www.stratford.gov.uk/coronavirus/additional-business-support-grants.cfm   

Applications for this grant close on  23:59pm on Sunday 13 February 2022.