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Welcome to the Tourism Newsletter!
What's new this week.....
As always please don't hesitate to get in touch with the team for further advice and support.
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Self Employment Income Support Scheme - 5th Grant
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The fifth Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant will cover May 2021 to September 2021, is taxable and will be paid out in a single instalment. It will be open to claims from late July 2021.
Guidance for claiming the grant will be available by the end of June 2021.
CLICK HERE for more details.
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Retail, Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Top-Up Scheme
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The Retail, Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Top-Up Scheme provides financial support of up to £10,000 to businesses that received the £25,000 Retail, Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Grant in 2020 and have not been paid under the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme or Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme: Part B, subject to some exclusions. This grant will cover a wide range of businesses across retail, hospitality, tourism, leisure and manufacturing.
As with the £25,000 Retail, Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Grant, only one grant will be paid to businesses which occupy multiple premises. Businesses which received the £25,000 Retail, Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Grant in 2020 have been automatically assessed for eligibility for the Retail, Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Top-Up. They do not need to apply.
If a business is considered to be eligible they will receive an email or a letter to confirm that the grant payment has been issued, as well as a remittance email or letter.
Businesses which are considered as ineligible for this grant will receive an email or a letter by early June 2021 explaining why they have been considered ineligible. This email or letter will also advise how businesses can request a reconsideration if they disagree with this decision.
Businesses which started trading after applications for the £25,000 Retail, Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Grant closed in May 2020, which would have been eligible for this grant, will have the opportunity to apply for the Retail, Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Top-Up from early June 2021. CLICK HERE for more info.
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Small Business Top Up Scheme
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The Small Business Support Grant Top-Up Scheme provides financial support of up to £5,000 to businesses that received the £10,000 Small Business Support Grant in 2020 and have not been paid more than £5,000 under the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme or Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme: Part B, subject to some exclusions.
This grant will cover a wide range of businesses, including those which were allowed to remain open during the most recent restrictions, such as convenience stores, hardware stores, bakeries, financial services, engineering firms and coach services.
As with the £10,000 Small Business Support Grant, only one grant will be paid to businesses which occupy multiple premises. Businesses which received the £10,000 Small Business Support Grant in 2020 have been automatically assessed for eligibility for the Small Business Support Top-Up. They do not need to apply.
If a business is considered to be eligible they will receive an email or a letter to confirm that the grant payment has been issued, as well as a remittance email or letter.
Businesses which are considered as ineligible for this grant will receive an email or a letter by early June 2021 explaining why they have been considered ineligible. This email or letter will also advise how businesses can request a reconsideration if they disagree with this decision.
Businesses which started trading after applications for the £10,000 Small Business Support Grant closed in May 2020, which would have been eligible for this grant, will have the opportunity to apply for the Small Business Support Grant Top-Up from early June 2021. CLICK HERE for more info.
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UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovation that can significantly impact the UK economy.
All proposals must be business focused. Applications can come from any area of technology and be applied to any part of the economy, such as, but not exclusively:
- the arts, design and media
- creative industries
- science or engineering
Competition opens: Friday 28th May 2021
Competition closes: Wednesday 25th August 2021.
CLICK HERE for details, check eligibility and apply.
Catalyst is hosting a masterclass on Wednesday 23 June which will explain the process for applying for Innovate UK funding and will provide practical hints and tips about how to write a compelling grant application. CLICK HERE for details and to register.
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A competition designed to support young people in the UK with ambitious ideas to run their own business has been launched, sponsored by The Purposeful Project together with Simon Squibb. Entries are open to all UK TikTok users over the age of 18. Closing date for receipt of all entries is 30th June 2021.
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Entrants will need to create a 30-60 second pitch video on TikTok, selling their ideas and the steps they would take to realise them. Alongside the video, entrants will need to fill out a form with a link to their video. The winner will receive:
- £5,000 in cash.
- Two hours of expert mentorship from successful entrepreneurs.
- Marketing support from The Purposeful Project and TikTok.
- A year of financial, business and marketing advice from Intuit Quickbooks.
- The Purposeful Project will arrange a PR campaign to promote the winner and feature them on all its social media channels.
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Experience Development Workshop -
Register Your Interest TODAY!
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Do you want to be involved in creating new, memorable tourism experiences in the Binevenagh and The Glens areas of the Causeway Coast and Glens?
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This is the FINAL CALL for you to register your interest in our Experience Development Programme. You must REGISTER by clicking the link below no later than THIS Thursday, 10 June, at 12 noon in order to be considered for this programme.
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The workshops for the programme will take place virtually on:
- Monday 14th June 10am-12noon
- for those businesses based within The Glens
- Tuesday 15th June 10am-12noon
- for those businesses based within the Binevenagh area.
For further information contact:
Zoe Bratton, Product Development Officer zoe.bratton@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk
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NI Tourism Conference 2021
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Tourism NI is hosting a virtual NI Tourism Conference which will be broadcast from the ICC Belfast on Monday 14 June, 10am - 12 noon.
The theme of this year’s conference is Survive, Revive, Thrive and will reflect on the past year and discuss opportunities ahead.
There will be updates on the following areas:
- Tourism Recovery Action Plan
- Market opportunities
- What Tourism NI is doing to support you
- How you can get involved and play your part
There will be an industry panel discussion and there will be the opportunity for you to submit questions throughout the session.
This virtual event is FREE to attend and open to all in the NI Tourism and Hospitality Industry. To secure your place click HERE.
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Tourism Ireland 'Green Button' Campaign
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Following the news that the RoI will be adopting the EU digital certificate from 19th July, Tourism Ireland are now preparing to roll out a major promotional kick-start campaign – ‘The Green Button’ – to entice and welcome back overseas visitors. The campaign will deliver a very clear ‘book now’ message to prospective visitors and will single-mindedly drive visitor numbers back to Ireland. They will be communicating with the industry on the island of Ireland about the roll-out of the campaign and the creation of a new toolkit of ‘Green Button’ assets.
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FREE PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY
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With over 50,000 followers across our social platforms we are offering you a FREE opportunity to get your reopening message and offers in front of our audience. We'll also set up a dedicated web page showing your business that will be linked to our paid promotional activity.
All you have to do is complete the form on the link below with your details and any accompanying images and videos and we'll do the rest. |
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Visitor Guide 2021 now Available
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The 2021 Causeway Coast and Glens Visitor Guide is now available from your local Visitor Information Centre and on our website. Packed with lots of information on what you can see and do in the Causeway Coast and Glens, it is a handy resource for you and your staff, as well as visitors who want to explore the destination. In these Covid conscious times, we have reduced the print run and would encourage you to share the guide with your customers and prompt them to plan their trip and pre-book activities to avoid disappointment.
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Visitor Information Centres - Keep in Touch with your Availability
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Visitor Information Centre Opening Hours
Bushmills, Portrush and Ballycastle:
9.30am-4.30pm Mon-Sat (closed 1-1.30pm).
Limavady:
Wed & Thurs: 10am - 4pm & 7pm - 9pm
Fri 10am – 3pm
Sat 10am - 1pm
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Cushendall Local Information Office:
June, September & October: (Monday - Saturday 10am - 2pm).
July & August: Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm ; Sunday 12noon - 4pm).
Accommodation providers - please keep in touch with our Visitor Information Centres and let them know if you have availability by emailing visitor.information@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk with the word ‘Availability’ in the Subject Heading. Accommodation Commission for any direct bookings made by our team this year is reduced to 5%.
If you have an experience / tour to offer we can sell this through our Visitor Information Centres. If you have not already signed up please contact caroline.carey@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk or T 07751 400278.
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Keep your entry on DiscoverNI Up-to-date!
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Did you know that the content that you supply to DiscoverNI will also populate the VisitCausewayCoastandGlens.com site, as well as Ireland.com?
It is therefore vitally important that you review your entry on www.discovernorthernireland.com, reviewing imagery and content for accuracy, in particular to both the domestic and ROI markets. If you need any assistance E engagement@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk.
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With health and safety now being at the top of consumers minds, getting YOUR safety message across is paramount in gaining consumer confidence in booking a place to stay, a place to eat, an activity or an attraction. It only takes a few minutes, is free of charge and you can register HERE.
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DOWNLOAD your ‘We’re Good To Go’ Global ‘Safe Travels’ Stamp NOW from the World Travel & Tourism Council
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All UK businesses that have registered for the ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard are automatically eligible for and able to download the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) international ‘Safe Travels’ stamp. CLICK HERE and follow the instructions to download the stamp.
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See the full list of upcoming TNI TED webinars HERE or you can playback all Tourism NI's previous webinars HERE
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Accredited Food Photography Course at NWRC
North West Regional College (NWRC) has become the first college in Northern Ireland to offer an accredited Food Photography course, which will run at both their Strand Road and Limavady campuses.
The OCN Level 2 course in Food Photography, is a brand-new part-time course which will run for 12 weeks on Tuesday evenings from 7-9.30 p.m beginning on Tuesday, September 28. CLICK HERE for details.
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Other Training Opportunities
For details on other training opportunities which are currently available, including FREE Skills Focus Programmes and Marketing Courses with NRC and NWRC, visit our trade engagement pages HERE.
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A Practical Guide to the COVID-19 Vaccination and the Workplace
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The Labour Relations Agency (LRA) has published a free guide for employers and employees on the COVID-19 vaccination and the workplace. This guide sets out some of the key considerations for employers regarding issues around the vaccination of staff, including how to tackle some of the ethical, legal and practical challenges. The guidance includes a sample vaccination policy that employers can tailor to reflect their needs. CLICK HERE.
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Regulations and Guidance for Tourism & Hospitality Businesses
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Tourism NI have published an updated version of their ‘Working Safely’ guidelines for Tourism & Hospitality Businesses reopening. CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE for example risk assessment template which shows the kind of approach HSENI expects a small business or workplace to take when carrying out a risk assessment for COVID-19 in the workplace.
Business operators must ensure they are familiar with Coronavirus legislation HERE and Covid-19 guidance HERE and HERE, including social distancing. All relevant health and safety legislation must be adhered to for the protection of customers and employees.
For further information contact a member of the Health and Safety team
T 028 2766 0257 or E healthandsafety@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk
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EU Exit
CLICK HERE to ensure you are up to date with the latest EU Exit related information sourced via the DAERA EU Exit website.
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Please call or email the tourism team with any queries or concerns and we will do our very best to help you or direct you to those who can.
Email us at engagement@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk
Contact Vicky T 07591 837841
Mon & Tues 9am-5pm;
Wed 9am-12.30pm
Contact Siobhan T 07591 837848
Tues & Thurs 9am-5pm;
Wed 9am-12.30pm
Follow us on Twitter @CCAGTourismTeam for updates.
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