Campaign claims there’s just a matter of weeks to save UK high streets

Liverpool’s hospitality and business community is backing a plea for access to government funding to be widened ahead of the next quarterly rent instalment on June 24.

The #RaiseTheBar campaign claims that 54,638 businesses – from pubs to shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels, galleries and gyms – are unable to access the £25,000 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG) due to their business rates valuation falling between £51,000-£150,000.

Figures from Liverpool’s business community support the campaign that warns the £617m discretionary fund announced by Government on May 2, does not go far enough, with no guarantees that local authorities will issue relief.

The Government has made clear that this fund is for specific purposes, none of which support businesses with a rateable value between £51,000 to £150,000.

The #RaiseTheBar campaign estimates a maximum of £1.365bn in government support is needed to enable the RHLG to support all 54,638 businesses.

Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID and chair of the BID Foundation, said: “We cannot underestimate the importance of our retail, hospitality and leisure sectors and not just to what they bring to our economy but the people that are employed within them.

“That is why BIDs (Business Improvement Districts) across the UK are supporting the #RaiseTheBar campaign in asking government to increase the retail, hospitality and leisure rateable value threshold from £51,000 to £150,000.

“In doing so, more businesses will have access to a £25,000 grant supporting their fight to survive and to allow them to play their central role in kick-starting our economy.”

He added: “We are now asking business owners, employees and customers to support the campaign, sign the petition and write to your MP about it. It is important that we look after for each other during these unprecedented times, so we come back to vibrant city centres.”

Paul Askew, from The Art School Restaurant and joint chair of Liverpool Hospitality Association, said: “The Art School Restaurant is my life’s work.

“I started in the industry washing pans at 15 years old, travelled the world to learn my trade, and 40 years later, created my dream.

“With 35 staff all furloughed, I am the one they look to, the one they ask, ‘will we survive?’

“Yes, we can borrow, but with new restrictions we are concerned that the business will not be able to service the debt and, therefore, be in a far worse position.

“The increasing of the threshold would be an absolute God-send, not just for us but independent operators across the country.

“We know we must adapt and even create a new business model, but we need assistance today to help us support tomorrow.”

As part of the RHLG guidance, only those in the retail, hospitality, leisure and assembly sectors with a business rates value of up to £51,000 can access the vital grant, leaving tens of thousands of businesses stranded.

The #RaiseTheBar campaign, launched on April 21, is calling on the Government to raise the arbitrary £51,000 business rates threshold cap to £150,000, allowing over 54,638 businesses in these sectors the chance to survive.

The campaign has secured cross-party support for its fight.

It believes access to the £25,000 is the difference between survival and bankruptcy for businesses on high streets across England and Wales, which have welcomed an outpouring of support from the public during lockdown, choosing to support their local communities.

The grant will enable businesses to mitigate significant stock losses and cashflow challenges, including rent, that wage subsidies do not address.

Many businesses are not in a position to take on further debt or have serious misgivings about being able to survive the recovery and service loans.
Other cash pressures include suppliers, service charges and the cost of re-opening to repurchase stock and ongoing running costs.