#RaiseTheBar campaign to save hundreds of firms and thousands of jobs in Sheffield

Industry leaders are calling on Government to help firms in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector with a rateable value of more than £51,000.

The #RaiseTheBar campaign aims to increase the threshold to £150,000 for firms eligible for grants £25,000.

In Sheffield city centre it would benefit 157 extra firms, including 40 pubs, bars and clubs. Some 400 would benefit across the wider city.

Without help many could go under, campaigners say, costing hundreds of jobs, leaving venues empty and depriving the city council of much-needed income.

Sheffield Business Improvement District represents firms inside the inner ring road.

Manager Diane Jarvis, said feedback suggested firms were carrying significant stock losses and facing immediate cash flow challenges that wage subsidies would not address.

Many were unable to take on further debt or had serious misgivings about being able to survive the recovery and pay off loans.

As well as grants, the government has launched business interruption loans with fewer checks and between 80 and 100 per cent guarantees. It is also paying the wages of furloughed workers.

Ms Jarvis said: "We appreciate further financial support increases the burden on central and local government. We believe this is a price worth paying because without it we risk thousands of jobs lost, growing unemployment and more empty premises as businesses that could have otherwise supported the UK’s recovery are lost.

"Even with an expansion of the cap, clearly not all businesses will benefit. What we believe to be important is that the grant scheme is reasonably extended as critically, this will help thousands of businesses in the UK to adapt to the challenges ahead."

Corporation nightclub managing director Mark Hobson said 40 city centre pubs, clubs and bars had missed out on the grant because of the cap.

He added: “The night-time economy is vital to the future of the city both culturally and financially. This anomaly risks putting thousands out of work and losing the local authority hundreds of thousands of pounds. Multiplied nationally, this oversight could be catastrophic."

Matt Bigland of The Milestone Group, owners of The Cutlery Works and Craft & Dough, said he had one site below the grant threshold and two above – but they were in no better financial situation and needed help.

He added: “The impact for our high street and hospitality sector is huge. The high street is already struggling. Adding bars, cafes and restaurants to this mix means the independent local flair and fire will be lost. People will lose the fight and ambition to continue.

“Sheffield is great because of its people, its passion and its can-do attitude. It is individual people working for the greater purpose that makes Sheffield. Multiplied out, the UK will lose its rich tapestry of individualism housed within our economic communities.”

City centre BID members adding their voice to the campaign include local independent investors Sean Gregory (Smoke BBQ), Kane Yeardley (True North Brew Co which owns several venues including The Common Room, Forum Café Bar and The Old House), Adrian Bagnoli (Cubana Tapas Bar & Restaurant).

The retail industry generated £394 billion of sales in 2019. Leisure generated £111 billion. Hospitality employs 3.2 million people, some 11 per cent of UK jobs, making it the third largest sector in the UK. Annual sales are £130 billion, some five per cent of GDP.

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