21/12/2020 - Permalink

New coronavirus grant schemes to be made available for hospitality and leisure businesses

Related topics: Coronavirus / Economic growth / Finance and budget

Two new grant schemes are to be made available to hospitality and leisure businesses in Shropshire who have been forced to close or been affected by reduced trade due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile over £4.2m has already been paid to more than 2,500 eligible businesses in recent weeks, under the current grant funds set up to support firms hit by the second lockdown.

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) Open is open for businesses who can remain open but have still been impacted by restrictions. Businesses supported will include food led pubs, restaurants, hotels and bed & breakfasts, alongside other businesses in the hospitality and leisure sector.

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) Closed is for businesses in the hospitality and leisure sector who have been forced to close. It will be broadly geared towards wet-led pubs.

Alongside the new local restrictions grant schemes the current LRSG scheme covering the national restrictions in November is still open and accepting applications. Businesses  eligible for this grant who have not yet applied are strongly encouraged to do so, and this will allow Shropshire Council to contact them regarding the new LRSG Open and LRSG Closed grants.

There is also a Christmas Support Payment of £1,000 available for wet-led pubs. To be eligible for this payment the business must make less than 50% of its income from food.

Businesses eligible for the LRSG open/closed schemes that have already previously applied, along with businesses who are eligible for the Christmas Support Payment will be contacted directly by Shropshire Council.

Payments of all of these grants will commence once further guidance and confirmation from government is provided.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for assets, economic growth and regeneration, said:

“I know many of our businesses are having a tough time, but this additional support will be on offer soon, and I would urge eligible businesses to take advantage of all of these grant schemes. I’m really pleased that more than £4.2m has already been paid out to more than 2,500 businesses. We’re working hard to get the money to all eligible applicants as quickly as we can, and we really do appreciate your patience whilst we administer these schemes.”

Further information

Grant Payment Thresholds

1. LRSG – Open

The grant payable (every two weeks) to an eligible business depends on the Rateable Value of the property. These are as follows:

  • For properties with a rateable value of £15k or under, grants to be £467
  • For properties with a rateable value of between £15k-£51k grants to be £700
  • For properties with a rateable value of £51k or over grants to be £1,050

2. LRSG – Closed

The grant payable (every two weeks) to an eligible business depends on the Rateable Value of the property. These are as follows:

  • For properties with a rateable value of £15k or under, grants to be £667
  • For properties with a rateable value of between £15k-£51k grants to be £1,000
  • For properties with a rateable value of £51k or over grants to be £1,500