The £10 million Kick-starting Tourism Packagewill be a major boost for communities that depend on tourism to help them adapt their businesses following the coronavirus pandemic.
The funding will give small businesses in tourist destinations, including social enterprises, access to small grants of between £1,000 and £5,000.
100% of the money will come from government with no obligation for businesses to contribute financially.
Businesses will be able to use the grants to pay for specialist professional advice (e.g. human resources, accountants, legal, financial, IT / digital), to explore and adopt new technology and online systems or to purchase new equipment.
About the funding
The Kick-Starting Tourism Package was announced by the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, Simon Clarke MP, last month (3 July 2020).
The package is supported by the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014 to 2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.
Funding will be allocated to each Local Growth Hub based on how much of their employment base is linked to tourism and hospitality businesses. This means that coastal and rural areas – with a bigger proportion of their economy focused on tourism, hospitality and allied sectors, will get a larger share of the funds.
As this package has been launched to address immediate needs, funding must be fully committed by 28 February 2021 with claims completed by 31 March 2021.
Find out more by visiting: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/901015/VE_Partner_Information_and_Allocations_FINAL_150720.pdf
You might also be interested in: £20 million in new grant funding has been announced to boost SME recovery
Supporting the Third Sector through COVID-19
A series of documents and updates regarding the 2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Programme and the response to COVID-19 can be accessed here.
As ever, our dedicated CSI Representatives are here to understand and unpack the issues that the third sector is facing within the current ESIF programme which are affecting their ability to use European funds effectively.
So that we can raise these issues at government level on your behalf and pro-actively work for solutions, we’re asking Third Sector organisations to tell us their experiences using these funds, in light of the outbreak of COVID-19. Please contact us via info@civilsocietyinvolvement.com
