PROPER long-term funding is needed to support Coventry and Warwickshire’s tourism and hospitality businesses.
Helen Peters, chief executive of Shakespeare’s England, the Destination Management Organisation for South Warwickshire and the surrounding areas, issued the warning as it was revealed the areas’ sector had received almost £5million worth of grants during the pandemic.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub SmartRegion report – which detailed the findings – gathers information from its business engagements, along with statistics and data from Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council, the CWLEP and other organisations.
Ms Peters said all local authorities should provide a percentage of grant funding through their Destination Management Organisation with contributions being proportionate to the economic impact tourism drove to each area.
Coventry and Warwickshire’s business support organisations have provided a wide range of financial support including almost £1.5million from Warwickshire County Council’s Adapt and Diversify scheme.
Nearly £200,000 was allocated quickly to businesses in the visitor economy from the European Regional Development Fund Specialist Grants awarded through the CWLEP Growth Hub with Coventry City Council acting as the accountable body.
More than £3million was lent to businesses in the sector by the Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust.
Craig Humphrey, managing director of the CWLEP Growth Hub, said “The Growth Hub is continuing to gather evidence to gain more intelligence, experiences, and insights from local businesses to report back to the Government since it is clear that these issues are not just happening in Coventry and Warwickshire although the degree of the impact varies between different areas.”
Problems ranged from supply chain difficulties, leading to significant price increases or stopping production, to the well-documented shortage of skilled and semi-skilled labour.
The phasing out of Government support to self-isolation rules and the ‘pingdemic’ also impacted.
“All of this is contributing to re-opening plans being disrupted for many businesses of all sizes, with some having to reduce hours or services and some being forced to close.”
