On 21 December 2021, the Government announced the introduction of grant support for hospitality and leisure businesses in England. The scheme provides support to hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses, in recognition that the rise of the Omicron variant means that some businesses are likely to struggle over the coming weeks.

The primary principle of the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme is to support businesses that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed rate-paying premises, in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors.

The grant scheme is only available to businesses who pay business rates (or receive business rate relief) and will be a one off grant of up to £6,000 based upon the rateable value of the premises.

• Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £2,667.
• Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £4,000.
• Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or over on 30 December 2021 will receive a payment of £6,000.

Logistics, manufacturing and sports/physical activity related sector employers are sought in Leicester/Leicestershire to take part in the Local Skills Improvement Plan. Through a minimal time investment, this is an opportunity to help shape the future of skills and training provision to ensure it meets your needs as a business.

All you have to do is answer 1-2 short questions per day for up to three months. These will be a mixture of multiple choice, YES/NO and free text questions, designed to minimise the amount of time required to respond to no more than a couple of minutes per day. They want to hear from as many people as possible - this could include frontline staff, operations and support staff, team leaders, managers, HR departments or learning & development professionals.

Employers participating in this phase of the LSIP will have exclusive early access to current data and trends in the logistics sector and will play a part in ensuring that future knowledge, skills and behaviour requirements are provided within the county.

For further information and if you wish to take part please contact as follows:

• Advanced logistics: slw@qinesis.com
• Advanced manufacturing: mjh@qinesis.com 
• Sport, physical activity and human health: LSIP@cimspa.co.uk  

Turn your business experience and expertise into a passive income machine. 

Leicester Startups is pleased to present a series of six workshops aimed at existing business owners who want to move out of the feast-and-famine cycle of traditional work and spin-off innovative passive income streams.

In this programme you will discuss the process of product creation using Lean startup principles, including modelling your business, using insights and rapid experimentation.

The whole series is free, thanks to funding through the LLEP Business Gateway.

Each of the six workshops will take place weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-2pm, running from 8-24 February'22. They will involve practical teaching, activities and a Q&A with an experienced entrepreneur. To get the most out of this programme, you will be expected to attend each session. They understand that your day jobs might get in the way on occasion, so they will record each session, but to achieve the maximum benefit, it is preferred that you contribute, ask questions and discuss with other workshop attendees in real time!

• Able to commit to a six-week flexible programme with 4 hours attendance to sessions each week
• Based in Leicester or Leicestershire
• Have a registered company or be a sole trader