Support for tourism and event businesses during COVID-19

Please see our operating during COVID-19 page for the latest guidance on business closures during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Update 16 June:

The Government has announced that businesses that have had to remain closed during the pandemic and are unable to pay rent on their commercial property will continue to be protected from eviction until 25 March 2022. Read the eviction protection statement.

Update 26 April:

Welcome Back Fund

Guidance has now been published on the Welcome Back Fund, a £56m fund to support the return to high streets safely. Read the guidance on the Welcome Back Fund.

Update 26 March:

Business Rates Relief Fund

The Treasury has announced a new £1.5bn Business Rates Relief Fund for businesses not eligible for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business rates relief. Read more about the Business Rates Relief Fund. 

Disregarded tax payments

HMRC has announced that any payments that an employer makes to an employee to reimburse them for the cost of a COVID-19 antigen test will be disregarded for the purposes of calculating National Insurance contributions. The disregard will apply to any advance payments or reimbursements made to an employee for the cost of a relevant COVID-19 antigen test made on or after 25 January 2021, until 5 April 2021. Read more on the National Insurance contribution exemption for employer-reimbursed COVID-19 antigen tests. 

HMRC has also announced that it will disregard payments made under the Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme in England to employees who are on a low income and have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace. Payments made under the scheme will not be liable to employer or employee Class 1 National Insurance contributions. Employers will also not be liable to Class 1A National Insurance contributions in respect of the payments. Read more on the exemption from National Insurance contributions for COVID-19 Test and Trace Support payments.

Recovery Loan Scheme, replacing CBILS, CLBILS and BBLS loans

Applications for CBILS, CLBILS and BBLS loans end on 31 March 2021. They are being replaced by the new Recovery Loan Scheme, which will run until 31 December 2021 to ensure that businesses can access Government-backed finance during the reopening of the economy. Read more on the Recovery Loan Scheme. 

Update 24 March:

The Chancellor has announced a £56 million Welcome Back Fund to help boost the look and feel of high streets and seaside towns. The funding will help councils prepare for the safe return of shoppers and tourists, including employing extra staff to keep festivals and events COVIDSecure. Pubs, restaurants and listed buildings will be given more flexibility to use their land to help more people meet up and enjoy themselves, including erecting marquees in pub gardens for the whole summer. Read more information on the Welcome Back Fund.

Update 11 March:

The cap on COVID support grants has been increased from £3m to £10.9m for businesses in England and the guidelines for local authorities has been updated. Businesses should apply for support grants via their local council’s website.

More information on hospitality being able to serve people outdoors in Step 2 of the Government’s roadmap has been outlined in a letter from The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick. 

There will be a continuation of greater flexibility for businesses to hold outdoor events such as summer fairs or motorsports on land without the need for a planning application. Car-boot sales, or people or businesses such as pubs wishing to set up marquees will also be exempt. Such temporary events to be allowed for 56 days until 31 December 2021.

For outdoor markets, a new temporary right has been extended to March 2022 that allows local authorities, either by themselves or by others on their behalf, to use land to hold a market without having to apply for planning permission.

Measures to support restaurants, drinking establishments such as pubs and cafes to serve takeaway food when they were otherwise closed due to coronavirus restrictions have been extended until March 2022.

Update 4 March:

On 4 March the Chancellor announced the budget. Key highlights for the tourism and hospitality industry include:

• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) extended until 30 September 2021
• Fourth and fifth grants confirmed for the UK Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)
• Restart Grants up to £18,000 for hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses
• Additional £425 million discretionary business grant funding for local authorities.
• Extension of the temporary 5% VAT rate until 30 September 2021
• Business rates relief for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties
• New Recovery Loan Scheme
• Continuation of the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Rebate Scheme
• VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme
• Extended loss carry back for businesses
• £300 million to extend the Culture Recovery Fund
• £90 million for continued support for Government-sponsored National Museums and cultural bodies in England.
• £300 million for continued support to major spectator sports in England, supporting clubs and governing bodies.
• Duty rates on beer, cider, wine and spirits will be frozen for another year
• Zoo Animals Fund extended until 30 June 2021

Read more information on the announcements in the budget that affect tourism businesses.

Update 8 February:

Flexible repayment options announced for Bounce Back Loan borrowers: The Chancellor has announced repayment flexibilities for Bounce Back Loan borrowers, with the ability to tailor payments according to individual circumstances. The scheme provides the option for small and medium-sized businesses to access finance more quickly during the coronavirus outbreak. Read more on Bounce Back loans.

Guidance on funding for employers looking to create jobs placements for young people: Guidance has been published on the Kickstart Scheme, which provides funding to create new job placements for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment. Read more on the Kickstart Scheme.

Applications for Christmas Support Payment for wet-led pubs extended: The deadline for applications for the Christmas Support Payment (CSP) for wet-led pubs that have been severely impacted over the Christmas period due to temporary local restrictions has been extended to 28 February 2021. Read more on the Christmas Support Payment for wet-led pubs.

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) update: Details about the fourth SEISS grant will be announced on 3 March 2021. The deadline for making a claim for the third grant has now passed. Read more about the SEISS grant.
 

New 5 January:

On 5 January the Chancellor announced:

• businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are to receive a one-off grant worth up to £9,000
• a £594 million discretionary fund will also be made available to support other impacted businesses
• Read the 5 January statement.

Guidance for local authorities on the business support package for the January 2021 lockdown has now been published.

New 17 December:

On 17 December the Chancellor announced the furlough scheme would be extended until the end of April 2021. Loan schemes, including Bounce Back Loans and Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Schemes, will also be extended until end of March 2021. Read the 17 December statement.

New 9 December:

The Communities Secretary announced that business owners affected by the pandemic will be protected from eviction until the end of March 2021. Read the 9 December statement.

New 1 December:

The Prime Minister announced that wet-led pubs will receive a one-off payment of £1,000 in December. Read the Prime Minister's 1 December statement.

Read the guidance on wet-led pub payments for local authorities. The guidance defines a wet-led pub as a pub that derives less than 50% of its income from sales of food.

New 20 November:

The Government announced that businesses will be allowed to opt into a new VAT Deferral scheme next year, allowing any deferred VAT to be paid in up to 11 installments over the course of the year so that the total deferred VAT is paid by March 2022. The online opt in process will be available in early 2021. Read guidance on the new VAT deferral scheme.

New 11 November:

• The Government announced an extension to temporary freedom for pubs, restaurants and cafes to provide food takeaways by another year; freedoms enabling outdoor markets have also been extended
• New protections have been put into place for cultural venues, by protecting theatres, concert halls and live music venues from demolition. 

Read the 11 November announcement.

New 5 November:

The Chancellor announced the following further support measures on 5 November:

• the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will now run until the end of March, with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked
• support through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will be increased, with the third grant covering November to January calculated at 80% of average trading profits, up to a maximum of £7,500
• Cash grants of up to £3,000 per month for businesses which are closed
• The ability for businesses to top-up Bounce Back Loans

Read the Government press release from 5 November.

New 31 October:

The Prime Minister announced that the furlough scheme has been extended and further economic support will be available:

• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) - also known as the Furlough scheme - will remain open until 2 December, with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500. Under the extended scheme, the cost for employers of retaining workers will be reduced. This means the extended furlough scheme is more generous for employers than it was in October.
• The Job Support Scheme will not be introduced until after Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme ends.
• More generous support to the self-employed and paying that support more quickly
• Cash grants of up to £3,000 per month for businesses which are closed
• £1.1 billion for councils to enable them to support businesses more broadly over the coming months, as a key part of the local economy
• Plans to extend existing Loan Schemes and Future Fund to the end of January and an ability to top-up Bounce Back Loans

Read the statement from 31 October

New 22 October:

The Chancellor announced that the Government will significantly increase the generosity and reach of its winter support schemes, including:

• open businesses which are experiencing considerable difficulty will be given extra help to keep staff on as government significantly increases contribution to wage costs under the Job Support Scheme, and business contributions drop to 5%
• additional funding to support cash grants of up to £2,100 per month primarily for businesses in the hospitality, accommodation and leisure sector who may be adversely impacted by the restrictions in high-alert level areas, delivered by Local Authorities. Check if you're eligible for the coronavirus Local Restrictions Support Grant.
• grants for the self-employed doubled to 40% of previous earnings

Read the Chancellor's statement from 22 October.

New 9 October:

• The Job Support Scheme will be expanded to support businesses across the UK required to close their premises due to coronavirus restrictions. Read the press release on the expansion of the Job Support Scheme
• £445 heritage organisations in England have received a share of £103 million from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. The funding is part of the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund which was announced in July. Read the press release on the Culture Recovery Fund.

New 2 October: businesses in Bolton to receive grants of up to £1,500

New 24 September - Winter Economy Plan: The following measures were announced by the Chancellor on 24 September:

• Job Support Scheme, from 1 November – 31 April, in which the Government will contribute towards the wages of employees who are working fewer than normal hours due to decreased demand
• Extension of the the Self Employment Income Support Scheme Grant (SEISS)
• Extension of the temporary 15% VAT cut for the tourism and hospitality sectors to 31 March
• New Payment Scheme for VAT bills, with businesses to be given the option to pay back in small instalments during the 2021-22 financial year rather than paying the full lump sum at the end of March
• 12 month extension of HMRC’s “Time to Pay” self-service facility
• New Pay as You Grow flexible repayment system for Bounce Back Loans, which have been extended from six years to ten. Interest-only periods of up to six months and payment holidays will also be available to businesses. 
• Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme lenders will be given the ability to extend the length of loans from a maximum of six years to ten years if it will help businesses to repay the loan
• Extension of the application period for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Bounce Back Loan Scheme and the Future Fund

• Read more details in the Chancellor's 24 September statement.

• 18 September: small businesses in England can now find somebody to apply to the Kickstart Scheme grant on their behalf. The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds.
• 10 September: businesses in England that are required to close due to local lockdowns or targeted restrictions will be able to receive grants worth up to £1,500 every three weeks under the Local Restrictions Support Grant.
• 22 August: guidance has been released on all the funding opportunities available through the Culture Recovery Fund
• 11 August: details have been announced of a £40 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The fund will help charities and environmental organisations to deliver "shovel-ready" projects across England to restore nature and tackle climate change. Funding will be distributed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund on behalf of DEFRA
• 30 July: a £20 million business grant fund for SME businesses has been announced. Businesses will be eligible to receive grants of £1,000 - £5,000 to help them access technology, equipment or professional advice as they plan for recovery. 
• 14 July: a ministerial statement has been issued to support the culture and tourism sectors by both preventing the loss of theatres, concert halls and live music performance venues, and encouraging local planning authorities to exercise their discretion in relation to planning conditions for caravan and holiday parks.
• 8 July: 'Plan for Jobs' support measures, including a VAT reduction from 20% to 5% on most tourism and hospitality-related activities and an 'Eat Out to Help Out' discount scheme which will provide a 50% reduction for sit-down meals in cafes, restaurants and pubs across the UK from Monday to Wednesday every week throughout August 2020
• 5 July: £1.57 billion investment to protect Britain’s world-class cultural, arts and heritage institutions
• 3 July: £10 million Kick-starting Tourism Package, to be delivered via local Growth Hubs.
• Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
• Business Rates Holiday for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure
• Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund
• Small Business Grant Funding
• Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund, aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs such as bed and breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates, allocated at the discretion of local authorities. Businesses who are eligible for the Self-Employed Income support scheme (SEISS) are eligible to apply for this fund as well.
• Bounce Back Loans (micro loan scheme)
• Statutory Sick Pay Rebate
• HMRC helpline for tax payment issues due to COVID-19 (‘Time to Pay’) – 0800 024 1222. You can also register to receive HMRC email alerts for upcoming webinars.
• COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility
• VAT Deferral (now closed)
• Income Tax Deferral for the Self-Employed
• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and step-by-step guide for employers. You can check the availability of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme website. It has also been announced that from 1 July employees in the scheme can return to work part time
• Confirmation that furloughed employees will receive full parental leave entitlement
• Self-employment Income Support Scheme
• £750 million package for frontline charities
• An additional 3 months to file accounts
• Restructuring and insolvency advice
• Measures to protect businesses from aggressive rent collection (now closed)
• Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill, which amends insolvency and company law to support businesses through this period of instability 
• A temporary service by Companies House that allows businesses to upload documents that previously had to be sent in
• The extenson of certain planning permissions

Other rules have also been relaxed, including regarding destroying spoilt beer and pub/restaurant takeaway operations.

Please note all grants made under the above schemes are subject to tax should the business make a profit during the current financial year.