- Boost for local pubs, restaurants and cafes as £10
million Hospitality Grant Scheme launches for
applications
- Funding aims to back entrepreneurs starting new
businesses, support training schemes giving young people their
first jobs, and help trusted community venues
to adapt and grow
- Over £3
million earmarked for non-profit Pub
is The Hub
Village pubs, family-run restaurants, and neighbourhood
cafés received a boost today as a new £10 million
three-year Hospitality Grant Scheme has launched for
applications.
Money will be invested into projects that help get
new hospitality ventures off the ground, bring
vacant premises back into use, or support training
programmes that help people develop the skills, confidence
and work ethic to open doors to future
careers.
For example, non-profit The Right Course used pilot
funding to help transform two prison staff restaurants
and kitchens into a hospitality training facility, providing
inmates with valuable experience
in a realistic, high-street-style working environment.
The Hospitality Sector Council and innovation lab specialist L
Marks brought together hospitality businesses and leading tech
companies to find new ways to boost productivity in the industry,
leading to hours of work being saved & reduced costs.
Minister for the Future of Work, said:
Hospitality venues are where communities come together and where
many people get their first experience of work. They create
jobs and help our towns and neighbourhoods to thrive.
This funding will back local businesses to
grow, boost opportunities for people across the UK and
support growth in every part of the country.
This move recognises the vital role hospitality plays in
supporting local economies and communities across the UK. This
includes providing many people with their first jobs, helping
them develop key skills to build successful careers within and
outside the industry.
£3m of the grant funding has been specifically earmarked to
support Pub is The Hub an independent non-profit
organisation helping pubs in rural and deprived
areas to diversify their services and
activities. This includes adding village stores,
community cafes, play areas and arts and crafts
activities, enabling pubs to expand their role as vital
local hubs.
The grant scheme comes as part of the Government's commitment to
deliver economic growth in every postcode and ensure communities
across the country can share in that success.
It follows on from the announcement
that pubs, clubs and live music
venues are set to receive a 20% cut to their business
rates bills from April, saving the typical pub an estimated
£1,000 next year.
Jane O'Riordan, Co-Chair of the Hospitality Sector
Council, said:
We welcome the launch of this grant scheme, which builds on a
successful pilot and demonstrates what can be
achieved when government and industry work together. The flexible
funding will help support innovative projects that boost
productivity and sustainability, create opportunities for young
people and those furthest from the labour market, and deliver the
shared priorities of the Hospitality Sector Council and the wider
sector.
Pub is The Hub Chief Executive, John Longden OBE
said,
Access to this new support from the Hospitality
Grant Scheme is warmly welcomed as it will help inspire local
publicans to diversify to create much needed local services and
activities in their rural, remote or deprived areas.
BIST, together with the Treasury, has recognised the vital role
that publicans and pubs play as essential small local businesses,
that make positive contributions to local communities. The scheme
will also encourage the leveraging of other match private and
public funding to support these small businesses.
This funding will help give long-term certainty to
publicans to create new services and activities in their pubs
which will deliver a wider social value and create a foundation
for well-being in their local areas.
Pub is The Hub has been very thankful of the support and
donations from within the pub and hospitality industry over the
past 25 years and looks forward to working in collaboration with
the BIST and the sector moving forward.
Notes to Editors
