The Chancellor has announced a new wave of financial support to help hospitality businesses as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise across Havering and the rest of the country.

The new support will help hospitality businesses as they are affected by new guidance brought in to stop the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. 

These new funds include: 

• New grants of up to £6,000 per premises for hospitality and leisure businesses
• Reintroduction of the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (SSPRS) for SMEs recording COVID-related absences
• £100m boost to the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), which pays for councils' discretionary grant funds
• An additional £30m to the Culture Recovery Fund to support culture.

£6000 hospitality grant

Many pubs and restaurants have seen cancellations and reduced footfall as the Omicron variant continues to spread. Hospitality UK has reported that many businesses have lost 40-60% of their December trade, often their most profitable month.

Around 200,000 businesses across England will be eligible for business grants which will be administered by local authorities and will be available in the coming weeks. Look out for further details in future Business Briefings. 

Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme

The SSPRS will help SMEs – those with fewer than 250 employees – by reimbursing them for the cost of Statutory Sick Pay for Covid-related absences, for up to 2 weeks per employee.

Firms will be eligible for the scheme from today and they will be able to make claims retrospectively from mid-January.

ARG boost

Local Authorities will have the discretion to allocate this funding to businesses most in need. We await confirmation from Government as to the size of this additional ARG top-up.

Look out for further details of which businesses will be eligible for discretionary grants in future Business Briefings. 

Culture Recovery Fund

£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.

If you require business support or advice from the Council, you can find lots of information on our support pages. You can also book a call-back appointment with our team if you cannot find what you're looking for (appointments will be limited over the Christmas period).

Visit the link below for more information. 

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The Council has recently written to hospitality businesses in the borough regarding new Plan B guidance. This includes guidance when planning large events with lots of people. 

People will need to show evidence of being fully vaccinated with two doses or a recent negative PCR/LFT result using the NHS COVID Pass before entering the following events:

• Nightclubs/Indoor events – more than 500 people
• Outdoor events – more than 4,000 people
• Any event – more than 10,000 people

If your event falls into the above criteria then you must carry out a risk assessment outlining all measures you will take to keep people safe. This will need to be submitted to the Council via email.

You need to complete this at least 10 working days in advance of the event.

The Council will either:

• approve the measures
• approve with alternative conditions
• reject the proposal, requiring the venue to carry out more stringent measures.

If the Council does not reply by 5 working days before the event, then the request can be treated as approved.

Havering Council is offering free single-use masks to local retailers for you to distribute to staff and customers where necessary, helping stop the spread of this new variant over the Christmas period.

You can collect two cartons per premises from your local library branch.

You will need to bring evidence that you are a local retailer, such as a recent utility bill with the business address.

If you are a member of the Romford Business Improvement District (BID) please email them directly to arrange collection - this includes tenants in the Liberty, Brewery and Mercury centres. Romford businesses that are not part of the Romford BID should collect from their local library. 

Please DO NOT approach libraries if you are showing COVID-19 symptoms, or have tested positive for the Omicron variant. 

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