Why has access to financial support been so difficult?


Many cash-strapped agents have endured additional stress trying to secure business support grants. Samantha Mayling reports


T


Chancellor Rishi Sunak


he government’s confirmation that travel agents are eligible for lockdown business grants


in England was welcomed by Abta as the potential end to a “postcode lottery” of financial support. Agents had made the original list,


but a specific mention was removed in the autumn before being reinstated last month. But while Abta says there has


been “an improvement” in access to grants since, it also says “local issues are still cropping up”, reports delays to payments and reveals it has “had to intervene in a handful of cases”. The association has pledged


to continue to lobby for support alongside fellow members of the Save Future Travel Coalition. Furthermore, an estimated


three million taxpayers – 10% of the UK workforce – have had no meaningful support, according to the Excluded UK alliance, ranging from new starters and the newly self- employed to limited company owner- directors and businesses ineligible for grants. Many of these are agents, whose


continued battle for support is rumbling on more than 10 months


10 4 FEBRUARY 2021 It’s been a stressful


few months and we could have done without the council taking such a ridiculous stance


after the introduction of furlough, self-employed support schemes and grants for small businesses – and chancellor Rishi Sunak promising “no one will be left behind”.


The battle for grants...in Surrey Agents in Surrey were among those battling their council to secure grants and have now received money. Margaret Ridler, owner of The


Travellers Boutique in Cobham, chased Elmbridge council “numerous times” to secure an Additional Restrictions Grant of £2,500 for being in Tier 3 last November. In mid-January the agency received a backdated Tier 4 payment of £1,214 and grants totalling £9,000 because of the national lockdown. Ridler said the “uncertainty


caused confusion and anxiety”. “It was always about parity with most other councils who were


paying agents,” she said. “It’s been a particularly stressful few months, with bereavements in the family, and we could’ve done without Elmbridge council taking such a ridiculous stance. “But we are resilient and can at last


see the light at end of the tunnel.” Martyn Fisher, managing director


of Greenstar Travel in Claygate, Surrey, received £8,500 from Elmbridge council following the government clarification. “I’m extremely grateful,” he said.


“Although [this amount] would not necessarily save some agencies from folding, it certainly helps pay some bills and costs. We have a chink of light at the end of a very long winter.”


...in northwest England Several agencies in the northwest also strived to secure cash from councils. Simon Rowland, managing


director of Wilmslow-based adventure and wildlife specialist Wildfoot Travel, endured months of frustration with Cheshire East council. But in late January, after support from local MP Esther McVey, he received £9,274 from two schemes: the Local Restrictions Support Grant and Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment, for


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