Murphy announces grant scheme for hospitality businesses in North West

Finance Minister Conor Murphy has today announced a grant scheme for hospitality businesses in the North West.

The scheme will see eligible businesses get up to £600 per week for the duration of the restrictions.

Making the announcement, Minister Murphy said: “The restrictions imposed in Derry & Strabane are necessary to preserve lives, but they have a very damaging impact on the hospitality sector. Today I am introducing a Grant Support Scheme to assist those businesses forced to temporarily limit their operations.

“Small businesses will receive £800 for every two weeks they are closed. Larger businesses will receive £1,200 for two weeks. This is above comparable schemes on these islands.”

The grant scheme is in addition to the 12 months rates holiday which continues until the end of March 2021.

Minister Murphy continued: “The Executive is doing its best to mitigate the economic impact of Covid-19.  However, the main support needed for businesses which cannot trade fully is wage subsidy.

“The end of the British Government’s furlough scheme at the end of this month is therefore deeply worrying and I again call for this scheme to be extended, particularly for businesses forced to close.”

More information about the scheme is available from NIBusiness Info.    

Notes to editors: 

1. A business will be eligible for support from the scheme if:

• It operates from an address in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area;
•  It has been identified by the Derry City and Strabane District Council Environmental Health department in one of the following categories 
               i. Cafes/Restaurants 
               ii Hotels/Guest Houses    
               iii. Pubs
• It had re-opened after lockdown and had been trading on 1 October when the new restrictions were announced; and
• The business premises must not have failed to comply with a Covid-19 prohibition notice by the PSNI. 

2. Business in properties with an Net Annual Value (NAV) of £15,000 or less will be given £800 for each two week period. Business in properties with an NAV of £15,001 or more will receive a payment of £1,200 for each two week period.

3. Businesses which operate from premises where they are not the rate payer and social enterprises providing services impacted by the regulations will also be eligible for the financial support.

4. Businesses seeking support will be required to register for the scheme and make a declaration that they meet the eligibility conditions.

5. They will be eligible for one grant for each property that they operate from within Derry City and Strabane District Council area.

6. The support will initially provide eligible businesses with support for two weeks.  However, if restrictions are extended, support payments will automatically be repeated for each period that the regulations apply.

7. All media enquiries to the Department of Finance Press Office at dof.pressoffice@finance-ni.gov.uk 

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9. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110

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