Applications are now open for grants to support businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors who have been affected by the Omicron variant.
There are two separate grants which businesses can apply for:
Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant
Businesses from the hospitality and leisure sectors are invited to apply for a one-off payment of up to £6,000.
The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant is funded by central government and will support businesses which have been most impacted by the Omicron variant.
The scheme for Liverpool is administered by Liverpool City Council and will support businesses which offer in-person services within hospitality, leisure or accommodation – and are delivered from rate paying premises.
Eligible businesses will include:
- Food courts, cafes, pubs and restaurants (Hospitality)
- Museums, cinemas, wedding venues, clubs and soft play centres (Leisure)
- Hotels, hostels, guest houses and holiday apartments (Accommodation)
Further examples of qualifying businesses within each sector can be found online – the list is not exhaustive and each application will be considered on an individual basis.
If a business offers a service which fall into another category, the application will be assessed against the category which makes up 50% of the overall income.
To apply for this grant, businesses must have been trading on 30th December 2021.
The value of the grant will depend on the rateable value of the business premises, for example:
- £15,000 or under will receive £2,667
- £15,001 to £50,999 will receive £4,000
- £51,000 or over will receive £6,000
Businesses can find the rateable value of their premises by checking their latest business rates bill or by searching Liverpool’s online commercial premises register.
Payments under this scheme are taxable and may also be dependent on the level of financial assistance received as part of any previous Covid-19 business grants. Full details can be found online.
Apply for Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant
If businesses meet the criteria, they can apply online.
The closing date for applications is 28th February 2022 and payments will be made to eligible businesses by 31st March 2022.
Liverpool City Region Additional Restrictions Grant 3
The Government has provided Liverpool City Council, and the other neighbouring local authorities in the Liverpool City Region, with Additional Restrictions Grant 3 (ARG3) funding.
This fund is designed to support businesses in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses severely impacted by the rise of the Omicron variant and it will be allocated to those most in need.
What businesses can apply?
This fund is for Micro and Small businesses, as described under the Companies Act 2006, that are NOT eligible for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant. See the list of businesses that can apply below:
- Accommodation – not Airbnb
- Breweries
- Caterers and catering suppliers/equipment
- English language schools
- Entertainment industries such as self-employed/professional musicians, promoters, artist agents/management companies
- Events industries such as marquee, sound and lighting, security company, event entertainment agency, event planner and management, event photographer, event and hospitality staffing agency
- Freelance and mobile businesses such as caterers, events, hair, beauty
- Gyms
- Hospitality businesses
- Leisure businesses
- Nightclubs
- Personal care
- The travel and tourism sector e.g. group travel, travel agents, tour operators and facilitators, coach operators, limousine hire
- Theatres
- Wedding-related businesses
- Wholesalers
- Those in the hospitality and leisure sector supply chain
Apply for Additional Restrictions Grant 3
Liverpool City Council’s ARG3 allocation is £622,981.34 and high demand for funding is anticipated – so there is no guarantee that an application will be approved.
Applications can be made from Monday 24th January 2022 until at 5pm on Friday 4th February 2022.
Businesses are advised to apply for the grants as soon as they can.