Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant Scheme

The application window has now closed.

The scheme will close for applications on 18 March 2022 and all final payments will be made to recipients by 31 March 2022.


General

  • Businesses must be listed on the business ratings list on the 30th December 2021 to apply
  • The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant is a one-off grant
  • To qualify businesses must have been trading on the 30th December 2021
  • Businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum permitted subsidy allowance (previously state aid) are excluded
  • Businesses that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made are excluded
  • We will aim to make all payments by the 31st March


Who is it for?

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 fixed rate paying premises, in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors who operate in Barking and Dagenham.

We will look at the following criteria when assessing your eligibility for the grant scheme:-

Has a valid business rates account and falls into the definitions below

Hospitality

A business whose main function is to provide a venue for the consumption and sale of food and drink.

  • Offering in-person food and drink services to the public.
  • Providing food and/or drink to be consumed on the premises.

Excluded from this definition are food kiosks and businesses whose main service (generating 50% or more of income) is a takeaway.

Leisure

A business that provides opportunities, experiences, and facilities, for culture, recreation, entertainment, celebratory events and days and nights out.

  • Provide in-person intangible experiences in addition to goods.
  • May rely on seasonal labour.
  • May assume public safety responsibilities.
  • May operate with irregular hours through day, night, and weekends.

Excluded from this definition are all retail businesses, coach tour operators, tour operators, and gyms and sports businesses where physical exercise or training is conducted on an individual basis or group basis.


Accommodation

A business whose main lodging provision is used for holiday, travel, or other purposes.

  • Provide accommodation for ‘away from home’ stays for work or leisure purposes.
  • Provide accommodation for short-term leisure and holiday purposes.


Excluded from this definition are all private dwellings, education accommodation, residential homes, care homes, residential family centres and beach huts


All businesses that satisfy one or more of the above definitions of hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors must have also been trading on 30 December 2021 to qualify.

Any business that is in liquidation, dissolved, struck off or subject to a striking-off notice cannot receive the Omicron Grant.

How much is the grant?

  • Rateable value £15K and under - £2,667 one-off Payment
  • Rateable value more than £15K and less than £51K - £4,000 one-off payment
  • Rateable value £51K and above - £6,000 one-off payment


How to Apply?

Before you apply, you must have the following information available to complete your application:

  • Your 9 digit Business Rates reference. This can be found on your latest Business Rates bill or letter.
  • VAT registration number (if applicable)
  • UTR number (if applicable)
  • Company registration number (if applicable)
  • Charity registration number (if applicable)
  • Bank Details & a copy of your business bank statement dated for the period covering December 2021 to 4th January 2022


Businesses who do not have a business rates account and not fall into the definition listed above will be automatically rejected.


Business Grant Subsidy Allowance (previously referred to as State aid)

The EU State aid rules no longer apply to subsidies granted in the UK following the end of the transition period, which ended on 31 December 2020.

Businesses who receive awards of Government grant funding such as the Local Restrictions Support Grant are required to comply with the Business Grant Subsidy Allowance rules.


Fraud

The Government will not accept deliberate manipulation and fraud – and any business caught falsifying their records to gain additional grant money will face prosecution and any funding issued will be subject to claw back, as may any grants paid in error.

The scheme will close for applications on 18 March 2022 and all final payments will be made to recipients by 31 March 2022.


General

  • Businesses must be listed on the business ratings list on the 30th December 2021 to apply
  • The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant is a one-off grant
  • To qualify businesses must have been trading on the 30th December 2021
  • Businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum permitted subsidy allowance (previously state aid) are excluded
  • Businesses that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made are excluded
  • We will aim to make all payments by the 31st March


Who is it for?

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 fixed rate paying premises, in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors who operate in Barking and Dagenham.

We will look at the following criteria when assessing your eligibility for the grant scheme:-

Has a valid business rates account and falls into the definitions below

Hospitality

A business whose main function is to provide a venue for the consumption and sale of food and drink.

  • Offering in-person food and drink services to the public.
  • Providing food and/or drink to be consumed on the premises.

Excluded from this definition are food kiosks and businesses whose main service (generating 50% or more of income) is a takeaway.

Leisure

A business that provides opportunities, experiences, and facilities, for culture, recreation, entertainment, celebratory events and days and nights out.

  • Provide in-person intangible experiences in addition to goods.
  • May rely on seasonal labour.
  • May assume public safety responsibilities.
  • May operate with irregular hours through day, night, and weekends.

Excluded from this definition are all retail businesses, coach tour operators, tour operators, and gyms and sports businesses where physical exercise or training is conducted on an individual basis or group basis.


Accommodation

A business whose main lodging provision is used for holiday, travel, or other purposes.

  • Provide accommodation for ‘away from home’ stays for work or leisure purposes.
  • Provide accommodation for short-term leisure and holiday purposes.


Excluded from this definition are all private dwellings, education accommodation, residential homes, care homes, residential family centres and beach huts


All businesses that satisfy one or more of the above definitions of hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors must have also been trading on 30 December 2021 to qualify.

Any business that is in liquidation, dissolved, struck off or subject to a striking-off notice cannot receive the Omicron Grant.

How much is the grant?

  • Rateable value £15K and under - £2,667 one-off Payment
  • Rateable value more than £15K and less than £51K - £4,000 one-off payment
  • Rateable value £51K and above - £6,000 one-off payment


How to Apply?

Before you apply, you must have the following information available to complete your application:

  • Your 9 digit Business Rates reference. This can be found on your latest Business Rates bill or letter.
  • VAT registration number (if applicable)
  • UTR number (if applicable)
  • Company registration number (if applicable)
  • Charity registration number (if applicable)
  • Bank Details & a copy of your business bank statement dated for the period covering December 2021 to 4th January 2022


Businesses who do not have a business rates account and not fall into the definition listed above will be automatically rejected.


Business Grant Subsidy Allowance (previously referred to as State aid)

The EU State aid rules no longer apply to subsidies granted in the UK following the end of the transition period, which ended on 31 December 2020.

Businesses who receive awards of Government grant funding such as the Local Restrictions Support Grant are required to comply with the Business Grant Subsidy Allowance rules.


Fraud

The Government will not accept deliberate manipulation and fraud – and any business caught falsifying their records to gain additional grant money will face prosecution and any funding issued will be subject to claw back, as may any grants paid in error.