Hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses in Stoke-on-Trent most impacted by the Omicron variant can apply for one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises depending on rateable value.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is administering a total of £1,416,078 of government funding and businesses can apply for the grants from today (17 January 2022).
The funding is from central government's Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme.
The council has now received the money and is immediately making it available in order that businesses across the city can benefit as quickly as possible.
Council leader Abi Brown said:
“The impact of the surge in Covid-19 cases means that certain businesses continue to face additional challenges and pressures, and this latest government intervention to support them through this difficult trading period is welcome indeed.
“The government have made this grant funding available for those businesses which need it, and we’re keen to ensure it gets to businesses can apply easily for it. The team will be focusing on ensuring we distribute it quickly and efficiently.
“Hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses across the city who have been affected by Omicron are encouraged to apply promptly. The closing date for applications is Monday 28 February 2022.”
The grants are part of a £1bn fund announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP on 21 December 2021. The government support package covers the new grants scheme, alongside the reintroduction of the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme and further funding released through the Culture Recovery Fund.
Nationally, an extra £102m top-up is being made available to support the Additional Restrictions Grant fund which councils can give out at their discretion to eligible businesses in need.
Stoke-on-Trent has been awarded £272,594 as its share of the Additional Restrictions Grant Fund.
On 11 January 2022, the Government advised Local Authorities their allocation of funding and we are now working on our policy and application for the top-up scheme.
We will be supporting the following business types:
• Events
• Suppliers into Hospitality, Leisure and Accommodation
• Hospitality and Leisure businesses that are not on the business rates system
• Travel Agents and Coach Tour Operators
• Gyms and Sport
Businesses are encouraged to apply to the council for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant funding which will be administered over the coming weeks.
Once the policy and application are finalised for the Additional Restrictions Grant we will update our dedicated business grants web pages with full eligibility details and the required application form.
www.stoke.gov.uk/businessgrants
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