NTIA demands further support for the NTE and events sector

In a letter to the Chancellor, Prime Minister and the Cabinet, the NTIA says the majority of NTE businesses will need sector specific support in the months ahead, adding that many are concerned it will not be financially viable to reopen under proposed Government measures.

The letter asks for a further business support grant along the lines of the Coronavirus Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Fund Grant, which is specifically available to businesses operating in the night time economy. 

It adds that the grants should cover businesses with a rateable value of 'up to and over' £150,000.

The NTIA also says it would like to see an tailored extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS) for the sector until the end of 2020, maintained at the full 80% level to 'reflect the longer lockdown' it is likely to face.

At present the JRS, which allows employers to claim 80% of an employee's wages up to £2,500 is to begin being phased out by the Treasury from the beginning of August, and closed permanently at the end of October.

The letter also asks for further assistance to support businesses battling against 'hard ball' landlords, including specific action to stop landlords forcing out tenants operating in our sector and then applying for ‘change of use’ for their premises; and demands the Government work with the NTIA to find ways of maintaining public health that are compatible with the industry, and will help allow businesses in the sector to survive commercially.

"This is an important sector to the economy that supports a huge amount of people as well as contributing to cultural and civic life and it would be a tragedy if such businesses were lost as the result of a chain of events over which they have no control," says the NTIA.

"It must be supported and protected."