Following the announcement that Dorset is to be placed in tier 2 restrictions once lockdown finishes on 2 December, Bournemouth Coastal BID is calling for extra targeted support for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

The BID is backing a Bounce Back Better manifesto, which details the specific measures and packages that will provide a vital lifeline for hospitality, retail and leisure businesses.

The manifesto follows intense and thorough talks with businesses, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), local authorities, destinations and industry bodies.

The ‘Bounce Back Better’ campaign was founded by Matthew Sims CEO of Croydon Business Improvement District.

There are four essential asks in the Bounce Back Better manifesto

1. One-off grant of up to £15,000 for retail leisure and hospitality businesses in tier 2 and 3 across England and Wales with a rateable value of up to and including £150,000. This would support 137,000 businesses and provide vital funds delivered in a manner local authorities are equipped to distribute at a total maximum cost of £2.05bn.

2. Pause national insurance employer contributions for furloughed employees

While employees receive 80 per cent of their salary through the extension of the furlough scheme, businesses are still paying out for National Insurance. At an average wage of £9.50 per hour, working 7.5 hours per day, 5 days a week, the National Insurance cost to a business in hospitality with 10 staff is £491.60 per week.  Every month, on top of all the other costs, businesses will be paying out £1,966.50 – nearly two thirds of the upper limit of funding provided by the Government currently.

3. Extension of 100 per cent business rates holiday for 2021/22

4. Extension of VAT reduction scheme

The cut in VAT from 20 per cent to five per cent is a major boost for the hospitality sector enabling businesses to pass on a £4.1 billion saving onto consumers.