We’re continuing to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure we are in the best position to work with the Government and other key partners to support businesses as effectively as possible.
Although the situation is more stable than a few months ago information changes quickly. To signpost information for businesses and individuals working in the tourism and hospitality industry we’ve pulled together helpful links to the most up to date information from the UK Government and key partners. A great example is the Visit Britain’s update page: latest information on COVID-19 -where you’ll find tourism-related news and information for UK tourism businesses.
First and foremost, everyone should follow all current guidance to minimise the spread of the virus and keep the public safe.
The Visit Kent Recovery Strategy | click here to view our Respond, Reboot and Rebuild strategy.
This information will be updated frequently so please check back regularly.
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Funding to support hospitality and leisure businesses
The Government has announced a £1bn fund to support Hospitality and Leisure businesses that have been impacted by the Omicron varient. This fund comprises:
• £683 million for grants for hospitality and leisure businesses in England comprising one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises for eligible businesses
• £102 million top-up for the additional restrictions grant for local authorities to support other businesses
• £30m for the cultural recovery fund to support theatres and museums
• £154 million for Scotland and Wales via the Barnett funding
• There is also a statutory sick pay rebate scheme which will reimburse employers in the UK with fewer than 250 workers for the cost of paying statutory sick pay for Covid-related absences for up to two weeks.Key Points:
• There is no definition of a Leisure Business yet
• Hospitality is defined as accommodation or
food & beverage services
• Recipients must be solvent businesses, and ratepayers in the hospitality and leisure sector
• The funding is based in the rateable value of the property£2,700 grant for a rateable value of between £0-15k
£4,000 grant for a rateable value of between £15 - 51k
£6,000 grant for a rateable value of over £51k
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Statutory Sick Pay
A statutory sick pay rebate scheme which will reimburse employers in the UK with fewer than 250 workers for the cost of paying statutory sick pay for Covid-related absences for up to two weeks.
Key Points:
• It is available for SMEs (i.e. employers with fewer than 250 employees)
• Employers will be eligible for the scheme if:
They are UK-based.
They employed fewer than 250 employees as of 30 November 2021.
They had a PAYE payroll system as off 30 November 2021.
They have already paid their employees’ COVID-related SSP.
• Employers will be able to claim the costs for up to two weeks of SSP per employee that has to take time off because of COVID-19.
• This two-week limit will be reset so an employer will be able to claim up to two weeks per employee regardless of whether they have claimed under the previous scheme for that employee. -
Face covering guidance
From Friday 10 December, the public and staff in public-facing areas, are required to wear face coverings in these additional settings:
• community centres (including village halls), youth centres, members clubs and social clubs
• libraries and public reading rooms
• polling stations and premises used for the counting of votes
• places of worship
• crematoria and burial ground chapels
• visitor attractions and entertainment venues (museums, galleries, cinemas, indoor theatres, concert halls, cultural and heritage sites, indoor areas at aquariums, zoos and visitor farms, bingo halls, snooker and pool halls, amusement arcades, adventure activity centres, indoor sports stadiums, funfairs, indoor theme parks, casinos, skating rinks, bowling alleys, indoor play areas including soft-play areas)
• public areas in hotels and hostels
• indoor areas of sports stadiumsThe main public guidance has also been updated in line with this announcement. This guidance contains a list of premises where people are exempt from wearing facemasks, which are:
- Restaurants, cafés and canteens
- Bars and shisha bars
- Gyms & exercise facilities
- Photography studios
- Nightclubs, dance halls and discotheques
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Covid Pass Guidance
From Wednesday 15 December (subject to parliamentary approval) the NHS Covid Pass on the NHS App will become mandatory for entry into nightclubs and settings where large crowds gather, including:
- nightclubs, dancehalls and discotheques
- other late night dance venues. These are any other venues that are open between 1am and 5am, serve alcohol during this time and/or have a dancefloor (or designated space for dancing)
- provide music, whether live or recorded, for dancing.
- indoor events with 500 or more unseated attendees, where those attendees are likely to stand or move around for all or part of the event, such as music venues with standing audiences or large receptions
- outdoor events with 4,000 or more unseated attendees, where those attendees are likely to stand or move around for all or part of the event, such as outdoor festivals
- any events with 10,000 or more attendees indoor or outdoor, such as large sports and music events
The NHS Covid Pass can still be obtained with two doses but will be kept under constant review as the boosters roll out. Having considered the evidence since the emergence of Omicron, proof of a negative lateral flow test will also be accepted.
Read more about how to use the NHS Covid Pass here. -
Face Covering Poster
If you operate premises where people are required to wear Face Covering, you can download a poster to remind customers on the following link
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Resources Related To Getting A Covid Booster
The is also a range of resource material available for businesses that want to encourage their employees to get their booster shot.
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