A business organisation is urging small firms serving the county's tourism industry to apply for a new grant to help those continuing to struggle during the pandemic.

The Kent and Medway Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) says there are grants of between £1,000 and £3,000 available through the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP).

The Revi-VE – South East Visitor Economy Fund is a 100% grant fund which sits as part of a wider package of support and is funded by SELEP in order to help deliver "long-term resilience and adaptation to a post-Covid world for the visitor economy".

This new programme is being delivered by a consortium of partners that represent the tourism and hospitality industry across the region, among them the county's tourism organisation, Visit Kent.

According to figures from Kent County Council, prior to the pandemic, Kent attracted close to 65million visitors a year, contributing almost £3.8 billion to the county’s economy, and supporting more than 77,000 jobs. This is equivalent to 11% of all employment in the county.

David Milham, the South East chair of the FSB, said: “Tourism, hospitality and the wider visitor economy are crucial to Kent and the South East. This grant comes at a time when government support starts to wind down and the delays to full reopening are hitting small businesses in the catering, hospitality, and tourism sectors. I encourage all those eligible to apply for the grants and make full use of the opportunity on offer.”

Applications will open from 9am on July 15 and close at 11.59pm on July 18. To find out if your company is eligible click here.

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