Covid-19 business grant launched to support travel firms in Sheffield

A one-off grant to support businesses in the travel sector who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic has launched today.

Grants of up to £6,000 are available to commercial and home-based businesses in the travel sector who have been severely impacted by the travel restrictions imposed due to Covid-19 and most recently the Omicron variant.

Independent Travel Agents, Travel Advisors and Coach Tour Operators are among those who are eligible for the new grants.

Councillor Paul Turpin, Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Jobs and Skills, said:

“The travel sector has faced some real challenges throughout the past 18 months and has continued to be affected by restrictions even after most rules were lifted in the UK. We recognise that this has been a tough time for the industry, and so I’m pleased that we’re able to provide some financial support to travel businesses in Sheffield.

"I hope that 2022 will be a brighter year for the travel sector but in the meantime, we will continue to do all we can to offer practical support and advice to those who need it.” 

To be eligible for a travel sector grant, businesses must be able to show that:

• Their main service (more than 50%) is to facilitate travel within the UK and internationally
• They were a member of a Travel Trade Association / Consortium on 30 December 2021
• They suffered a significant loss of trade because of the travel restrictions / Omicron variant
• They were trading on 30 December 2021

Businesses with premises must:

• Have fixed commercial property costs – identified by Business Rates or Rent (or mortgage payments)
• Be occupying and trading from the premises
• Have premises in Sheffield

Homebased Businesses must:

• Be incurring business related costs – such as insurance/professional membership fees.
• Be registered at a Sheffield address

Home based businesses will be able to apply for a grant of £1,000. Grant allocations for businesses with commercial premises will be based on the value of the property’s business rates, rent or mortgage.

The deadline for applications for the COVID-19 Travel Sector Grant’ is Monday 28 February 2022.  Apply online https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/travelgrant  

The team at Business Sheffield can provide help, advice and support, contact BusinessSheffield@sheffield.gov.uk, phone is 0114 224 5000

This is the second business grant scheme to launch in Sheffield this year, with applications for funding for businesses in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors also open until 16 February. 

More information for businesses can be found on the Sheffield City Council website.