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<p>We recognise that COVID-19 restrictions are significantly impacting tourism across
the country, and that these remain extremely challenging conditions for businesses
such as English Language Teaching Centres, which are important to the supply chain.</p><p>
</p><p>English Language Schools have been, and are, able to benefit from a wide variety
of Government support, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which has been
extended until September, a variety of generous Government backed loan schemes and
grants through the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme, although this is for England
only.</p><p> </p><p>The guidance for the Additional Restrictions Grant funding was
updated on 22 March to include the £425m top-up from 1 April 2021. This states that
Local Authorities are encouraged to support businesses from all sectors that may have
been severely impacted by restrictions, but are not eligible for the Restart Grant
scheme. The document states that this may include English Language Schools, alongside
a number of other businesses.</p><p>Although funding issued under the Additional Restrictions
Grant scheme is ultimately issued at the discretion of Local Authorities, we encourage
and expect them to be sympathetic to applications from English Language Schools, as
well as other businesses in the tourism supply chain which have been affected by COVID-19
restrictions.</p><p> </p>
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