After 18 months of support and announcements, it feels like a while since we’ve reported on government COVID support.
For those businesses in the hospitality and leisure sector, there is now some additional support available. A new grant, the “Omicron Hospitality & Leisure Grant” (OHLG) was announced on 21st December 2021. This grant is available to those businesses that are in the business rates system, i.e. those with premises.
How much is the new hospitality grant?
The grant is up to £6000 per business. The grant is related to your business rates account, so the amount payable depends on the ‘rateable value’ of your building. This rateable value can usually be found on a business rates bill.
| Rateable Value | Grant Amount |
| £15,000 or less | £2,667 |
| £15,001 – £51,000 | £4,000 |
| £51,001+ | £6,000 |
Is my business eligible for the grant?
The local authorities will have detailed guidance, but the main points are:
- Your business must be the ratepayer of the premises as at 30th December 2021.
- The business must have been trading on 30th December 2021.
- The business must offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in the fixed business rates paying premises.
- Your main service must fall into one of the Hospitality, Leisure or Accommodation sectors.
If you are unsure if you are in the hospitality and leisure sector, check with your local authority. A local council near our accounting company (Fareham) has produced a great general list here.
How do I get the grant?
You can apply to your local authority. The name of your authority will be on your business rates bill. At the time of writing, some authorities have an application form up, some have mailing lists to sign up to.
You are looking for the “ Omicron Hospitality & Leisure Grant (OHLG)” page. Here are some examples from the councils local to us:
IMPORTANT: Most councils have a mid-February deadline for applications, so it’s important to apply soon.
How long does it take to get the grant?
This seems to vary between the local authorities, but we have seen dates between 7th January 2022 and 28th February 2022.
Latest grants info direct to your inbox
Like many grants, your accountants can’t actually apply for the OHLG grant on your behalf. However, here at Heelans we can keep you informed of the latest developments in our newsletter, delivered direct to your inbox. Just sign up for more business tips news and insights here.