New business grants will help local businesses which have been impacted by the Coronavirus.
Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant
The Government has announced the introduction of grant support for hospitality and leisure businesses in England which have been impacted by coronavirus restrictions and the Omicron variant.
One off grants up to £6,000 will be paid to hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses in England business rated premises appearing on the local rating list only.
To be eligible for this grant, a business should be under one of the following categories:
- Hospitality: a business whose main function is to provide a venue for the consumption and sale of food and drink
- Leisure: a business that provides opportunities, experiences and facilities, in particular for culture, recreation, entertainment, celebratory events, days and nights out, betting and gaming
- Accommodation: a business whose main lodging provision is used for holiday, travel and other purposes.
The scheme is now live. Businesses do not need to do anything now, as we have identified those businesses that we feel will meet the eligibility criteria and have been emailing businesses from 25 January onwards.
Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG6)
Stroud District Council has created a new Additional Restrictions Grant with Government funds, which will provide additional support to businesses which have been severely impacted by Covid restrictions and uncertainty caused by the Omicron variant.
The scheme opened on Friday 21 January 2022 and closes on Friday 4 February 2022 at 4pm. We ask that businesses do not apply for this new Additional Restrictions Grant if they’re eligible for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant.
To be eligible, a business must fall into one of the following sectors:
- Hospitality, Accommodation and Leisure for businesses outside of the business rates system only;
- Personal care;
- Travel and tourism including group travel, travel agents and tour operators, coach operators;
- Wedding industries;
- Nightclubs;
- Theatres;
- Events Industries;
- Wholesalers;
- English Language Schools;
- Breweries;
- Freelance and Mobile businesses (including caterers, events, hair, beauty and wedding related businesses);
- Gyms;
- other businesses that may not have received other grants funding;
Cllr Doina Cornell, leader of Stroud District Council said: “Making sure that our local businesses receive the support after the Covid pandemic they need continues to be very important to us, and I know that the team administering and paying them are acutely aware of the need to pay promptly.”
For further information on these business grants and to apply: www.stroud.gov.uk/business/business-rates
