Chancellor Rishi Sunak has set out a £1bn fund to help businesses hit by the rise in Covid-19 cases, including the leisure and hospitality sector. This fund has been allocated to England and the rest of the UK.
Restaurants, bars, cinemas and theatres will be able to apply for one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises depending on the level of business rates paid. They will be provided under existing council-run schemes.
The government will also help some firms with the cost of sick pay for Covid-19 related absences, Mr Sunak said.
He also announced an extra £30m to help theatres and museums.
£6,000 Cash Grants
- Firms with a rateable value of up to £15,000 will be eligible for grants of £2,700.
- Firms with a rateable value from £15,000 to £51,000 will be eligible for grants of £4,000.
- Firms over £51,000 will be eligible for grants of £6,000.
Businesses in administration, insolvency or where a striking-off notice has been made will not be eligible.
An extra £102m is being made available for business which do not pay business rates for local authorities to top up Additional Restrictions Grants.
Businesses will be able to apply for their local authorities for this grant.
Sick pay
The Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme in being re-introduced, meaning business with fewer than 250 employees can again claim money to cover sick pay for employees who are affected by Covid-19. Any Covid-19 related sicknesses will be paid from day 1.
Top-ups for theatres and museums
An extra £30m for arts organisations through the existing Culture Recovery Fund.
For further information please go to the government website by following the link below
£1 billion in support for businesses most impacted by Omicron across the UK – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)