Representing providers of Outdoor Adventurous Activities in South Wales and the Brecon Beacons
At recent regional Tourism Forums attended by WATO representatives, Visit Wales acknowledged on behalf of the Welsh Government that they are aware of those who are falling between the gaps i.e. sole traders, those below VAT threshold, newly incorporated businesses, micro business who don’t pay PAYE, those with no business rates and freelance instructors. They … Read more
More impact surveys, this time specifically aimed at the UK-wide Outdoor Sector and therefore relevant for all SWOAPG Members to complete. From the Institute for Outdoor Learning (IOL): “After a period of significant and necessary change, now is the time for taking stock of the impact of the current situation on Organisations and Professionals involved … Read more
The Westminster All-Party Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism is launching ‘Pathways to Recovery,’ an urgent inquiry into the measures that businesses in these two vital sectors of the UK’s economy will need in order to successfully reopen, recover and thrive in the aftermath of the COVID19 crisis. The key focus of this inquiry will … Read more
The Welsh Government has now responded formally to the Outdoor Alliance’s letter expressing concerns about closures to paths and access land. The full response, which reiterates the earlier advice to landowners on footpaths and access land closures, is attached:
Despite Welsh Government having recently opened its new Economic Resilience Fund to support micro-businesses through the Covid-19 crisis, it seems that one-man-band Limited Companies will still fall through the gap between this fund and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. Representatives from WATO will be raising their concerns about this gap – and more generally about … Read more
Get your applications in quickly for the newly-opened Welsh Economic Resilience Funds: Welsh Economic Resilience Fund – Microbusinesses (1-9 Employees). Welsh Economic Resilience Fund – SMEs and Large Businesses (10-249 Employees). Refer to the Guidance notes for further information. We recommend that, before submitting an application, you visit the Welsh Economic Resilience Fund Checker to … Read more
Just in case any of our Members are still ‘open for business’… The Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, has issued the attached letter to draw the attention of businesses and employers to the following updated guidance to assist employers, businesses and their staff in staying open safely during coronavirus: Guidance for … Read more
Brecon Beacons Tourism is preparing to lobby both the Welsh and UK Governments that additional financial support is needed for tourism businesses. All activity businesses (including the self-employed) based in Brecon Beacons National Park are encouraged to complete by noon on Thu 16 Apr their new online survey, to identify what financial support businesses are … Read more
The Welsh Government has recognised that its current Covid-19 financial support measures do not do enough to support small and micro-businesses that do not qualify for other schemes, so is launching new grants through its Economic Resilience Fund for which applications will open on 17 April (although Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken … Read more
Since the Outdoor Alliance wrote to the Welsh Government on 1 April asking for clarification and reassurance about the closures of footpaths and access land due to Covid-19, the Welsh Government has now provided guidance to landowners and managers, saying: “Limited closures are targeted to prevent overcrowding in specific areas only, and widespread closures of … Read more