Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure independent hospitality businesses can access the Hospitality Support Fund.

The Hospitality Support Fund supports projects delivering wider benefits for hospitality businesses and communities, rather than funding individual businesses’ commercial expansion or refurbishment.

Eligible applicants include charities, not-for-profit organisations, social enterprises, SMEs acting as delivery partners, local authorities, public bodies and accountable organisations leading consortia. Independent hospitality businesses can benefit through projects delivered by these organisations.

The first application window closed on 13 October 2026, and applications are being assessed. A further competitive funding window is expected in early 2027.