Commenting on the restrictions that will be applied to the hospitality industry, Ben Francis, FSB Wales Policy Chair, said:
“There is no getting away from the fact that today’s announcement will come as a devastating blow to those indoor entertainment and hospitality firms that have fought tooth and nail to protect jobs, remain viable and provide a safe environment for their staff and customers this year. For many, having a successful run-in to Christmas would have been vital to keeping the business going through the winter.
“The support package announced by the First Minister will be very welcome. It is important to remember that there are going to be supply chain businesses that will feel the serious impacts of these new measures and it is vital that they are able to benefit from financial support.
“It will be incredibly important that this funding can be rolled out as a matter of urgency – businesses will now be in a position that means that they are entirely reliant on this financial support in order to weather the winter. Funding must be accessible, readily available and paid in the quickest possible time so that it can get into the hands of those where it will make a real difference.
“The sector-specific support for tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses is very welcome and, again, if done right will support the sectors that have faced the economic brunt of the crisis. However, lessons must be learned from the roll-out of the Development Grant which left many businesses confused and disappointed. We cannot afford to get this wrong and hope that this application process will prove to be smoother.
“We would urge Welsh Government to ensure that the funding that is available will be rolled-out in way that ensures it can make a meaningful difference to businesses who were relying on a successful December in order to help them stay viable through the winter.”