The Humber LEP’s Business Growth Hub is inviting businesses in the Humber’s Visitor Economy to register for pre-application to a 100% funded grant scheme to support with Covid-19 business recovery activity.

First launched in September 2020, the scheme has awarded grants to more than 75 businesses to date, and with limited funding remaining, the Growth Hub is encouraging eligible businesses to register for the scheme once the online portal re-opens in January.

Grants of up to £3,000 are available, and can be used to cover costs arising from implementing “return to normal” activities, such as working with consultants and specialist advisors to devise new marketing and sales strategies, or to look at introducing a new product or service to the business in order to diversify. Also, the grants can be used to fund the purchase of specialist equipment (costing £4,999 or less) to help with business recovery or to help provide new-to-the business products and services.

However, the grants cannot be used to cover “retrospective costs”; that is, to fund anything a business has already paid for. The grants can only be used to fund activities or equipment that is yet to be purchased.

Businesses will need to demonstrate the impact that Covid-19 has had on their business, and will also need to provide a short business case on what they are proposing to use the grant for, and how this will help the business “get back on its feet”.

A business in the Visitor Economy is one where the business is dependent on visitors for income, including both leisure and business visitors. Some examples of Visitor Economy businesses are accommodation providers, travel and transport businesses, hospitality businesses (pubs, cafes, restaurants and street food vendors), leisure and tourist attractions, travel agents, performing arts, museums and cultural organisations.

Jon Brunton, Growth Hub Manager at the Humber LEP said “We first offered these grants in September, and demand was unprecedented, with our grant processing team receiving over 100 applications within 48 hours.”

“Now that we’ve worked through the applications that we’ve received to date, we will be in a position by January to invite further applications from new businesses.  We are therefore delighted that we will be able to support more businesses in the Humber’s vibrant – though for the moment under siege – Visitor Economy”

Businesses will need to register as a “pre-application” when the portal reopen on Wednesday 6^th January. The Growth Hub team will then invite full applications from eligible businesses that have registered on a “first-come, first-served basis”.

Businesses can register as a “pre-application” via a dedicated online portal from Thursday 7^th January. The Growth Hub team will then invite full applications from eligible businesses that have registered on a first-come, first-served basis. Assistance to complete the grant application form can be provided by the Growth Hub’s business advisor team on request.

Visitor Economy businesses can find out more about this grant scheme, and can also access the online portal on the Growth Hub website here: heygrowthhub.com/kickstarting-tourism-grants-for-smes