Please note: this article was correct at the time of writing and publication. However, please bear in mind that advice and guidance may change at short notice due to the nature of this unprecedented situation. We are doing our utmost to provide up to date information, as and when it happens.
For the latest, please visit www.ncass.org.uk/coronavirus
We are The Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS), a trade body that represents 6,500 independent food & drink businesses who have been forgotten by government at this critical time.
85% of our members are mobile caterers specialising in street food, event / festival and function catering. These are the people whose food you share across social media, who are leading the way when it comes to creativity in food, who make their pitches destinations, who add so much to the food & drink industry, whose food you queue up to eat.
They feed us when we’re on the go, when we’re socialising, when we’re at events, in a festival field, at the much loved street food markets across the country. They now have no access to income and nowhere to trade. They need your support!
The recent support measures announced for the hospitality industry do not apply to our members. Cash grants of up to £25,000 are only applicable for businesses who pay business rates. The vast majority of mobile caterers are self-employed and do not buy business rates as they have no fixed premises.
These grants should be made available to any and all hospitality businesses regardless of whether they operate a fixed premises.
Loans are seemingly the only option here for our members and increased debt is not an attractive response to a situation that is completely out of anyone’s hands, that nobody could foresee and is nobody’s fault.
Access to grants could enable mobile caterers to survive the coming months. Without them, many will be forced to apply for universal credit and likely have no choice but to shut down.
PLEASE HELP SAVE THIS SECTOR OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
We need the Government to:
(1) Include mobile and independent catering businesses (that don’t pay business rates as they have no premises) in the emergency plans and financial support for the hospitality sector. In particular, access to the grants available.
(2) Allow caterers to support the country during this emergency. They can help feed the critical workers / key staff throughout this very difficult time.
(3) Include mobiles caterers in planning permission changes to enable mobile and independent catering businesses to pivot to takeaway / collection.
(4) Extend The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to the self-employed.
Please do all you can – sign this petition, write to your MP using our template (you can find it at www.ncass.org.uk/coronavirus/write-to-your-mp), fill in our industry Survey, and speak to us if you need support.
This is far from over!
Thank you for your support.
The Chancellor is due to make a statement tomorrow and we are working towards our sector being addressed. To do this we need your support. You can:
1. Complete our industry survey
3. Contact your local MP using our template here – find out who your MP is here members.parliament.uk/members/Commons
4. Share this post far and wide!
Sign the petitionPlease save these images and share them on your social media channels, linking back to the NCASS coronavirus hub: www.ncass.org.uk/coronavirus
To discuss any of the above points or if you have any questions, please contact your NCASS Account Manager on 0300 124 6866 Monday -Thursday 9-5:30pm and Friday 9am – 5pm.
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