Advice for businesses
Depending on the nature of your business, there is advice available on how to carry out your business safely for you, your staff and your customers.
Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant
On 21 December 2021, the government announced the introduction of grant support for hospitality and leisure businesses in England. The scheme provides support to hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses, in recognition that the rise of the Omicron variant means that some businesses are likely to struggle over the coming weeks.
This support will take the form of a one-off grant funding scheme. The funding is to be made available in Financial Year 2021-2022 and can be used in Financial Year 21/22 only.
The scheme will close for applications on 18 March 2022 and all final payments will be made to recipients by 31 March 2022.
Under the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme, Local Authorities will receive funding to be allocated in one-off grants to businesses. Grants of up to £6,000 will be paid to hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses in England.
The following thresholds apply for these businesses:
- Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £2,667.
- Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £4,000.
- Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or over on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £6,000.
The primary principle of the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme is to support businesses that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed rate-paying premises, in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors.
Grants are per premises and the amount paid is varied by rateable value (RV) of each eligible premises, in three bands: £0-15k; £15-51k; and over £51k.
| Rateable Value | £0-15k | £15-51k | >£51k |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value of grant available | £2.7k | £4k | £6k |
Businesses will be eligible for this support from 30 December 2021. Newark and Sherwood District Council were the first to get grants out to local businesses last time and we are also one of the first to get grants out this time too.
To apply for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant, please fill out an application online.
Additional Restrictions Grant
To support other businesses impacted by Omicron – such as those who supply the hospitality and leisure sectors including taxi drivers – the government is also giving more than £100 million to the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) fund for local authorities in England.
The District Council has been provided with limited funds of £205,187 and will decide which sectors to prioritise for this support. Unfortunately, this is insufficient funds to support every business affected by the Omicron variant.
Payment will only be provided to eligible businesses who supply the correctly completed application forms and provide the required supporting evidence at the same time, on a first come, first served basis.
The main criteria for a business to be eligible for this grant are:
- You must either be:
- A business rated property for which you are liable, or:
- Have a fixed rental cost (with a rental agreement which must be submitted with your application and must relate to property within the district of Newark and Sherwood)
- A licensed taxi driver residing within the District of Newark and Sherwood
- Trading at 30 December 2021 and continuing to trade
- Not in liquidation or administration or being struck off
- Not qualified for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG)
- The business has not received funding in excess of the subsidy control limits
- Involved directly, or as part of the supply chain, in the following sectors:
- Hospitality, for example:
- Businesses that provide food and/or drink to be consumed on the premises
- Wholesalers
- Breweries
- Leisure, for example:
- Wedding/events venues
- Gyms (RV less than £51,000)
- Dance and yoga studios
- Event management businesses
- Village halls except where the property is run by precepting body (for example a Parish Council)
- Scout huts
- Travel and tourism sector including travel agents and tour operators, coach operators, licensed taxi driver resident within the Newark and Sherwood District
- Accommodation, for example:
- Caravan/camping sites
- Hotels
- B&Bs
- Holiday apartments
- Guest houses
- Kennels and catteries
- Beauty and health sectors, for example:
- Hair dressers
- Tattoo artists
- Nail artists
- Driving instructors
Due to the limited funds available under this scheme, it will be operated on a first come, first served basis so you should not delay in putting in an application.
Awards made under this scheme:
| Rateable Value (or annual rent) | Value of award |
|---|---|
| £15k and under | £1,000 |
| Over £15k and less that £51k | £1,750 |
| Over £51k | £3,000 |
| Licensed taxi drivers | £750 |
You must apply for this grant before Friday 18 March using this online form.
You will need to provide supporting documents in support of your claim which should be uploaded at the time of your application, for example a recent bank statement showing the business name as the owner of the account. There will be a review of the scheme should there be any funds left.
To provide continued support to the cultural sector, £30 million further funding will be made available through the Culture Recovery Fund to support organisations such as theatres, orchestras and museums through the winter to March 2022.
More on the announcement can be found on the government news website.
Further information on the grant is also available on the government website.
Your business may be eligible for other grants and support from us. To find out more visit the business growth and support section of this website.
Latest on national restrictions
Face coverings and Covid passes are no longer legally required in England, after the relaxation of Plan B rules came into effect on 27 January.
Some shops have said they will continue to ask people to wear face masks and rail operators also said passengers would be expected to wear face coverings. But all said they would encourage, not force, customers to comply.
Public health guidance urging people to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces when coming into contact with strangers will remain.
Organisations will also be able to choose if they require Covid passes from those visiting their venues.
More information can be found on the government website.
Contact us
If you need specific help, email us at pandemic@Newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk with your query and contact details so we can get back to you.
For advice on working safely during the pandemic, please visit the government website.