The Reader: English language schools need help to survive

On 17 March, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that business rates relief extension outlined in the budget to support the UK Hospitality and Leisure industries would be applied to all businesses in these sectors. However, many of the 100+ English Language Teaching (ELT) centres in London are unable to access this relief due to an absurd and arbitrary interpretation of the scheme.

ELT schools, along with a number of other businesses in the sector, are being excluded due to guidance provided to councils by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government that because customers do not enter the premises to make a purchase, they do not qualify. With the students at these schools travelling from all over the world, it is hard to imagine how they could come to study without buying the course in advance.

Ealing and Harrow Councils in London and some others in the UK have granted this relief to language schools. Other London Councils have refused the relief, creating a postcode lottery that is completely contrary to the Chancellor’s pronouncement that all hopsitality and leisure businesses should benefit.

The Treasury needs to clarify its guidance and require all councils to extend the relief to all businesses in tourism and leisure-related industries, including English language schools. Without this, some councils will continue to ignore legitimate requests whilst others will bow to the significant pressure being put on them by MPs, councillors and their constituents to support these much loved businesses across the capital. Jane Dancaster of the Wimbledon School of English commented:

“We pay £106,000 in rates every year and for the remainder of 2020 we foresee having no students studying with us. Our teachers, host families, coach companies, local cafes, shops and restaurants all rely on WSE. Business rates relief might be the difference between survival and closure for us. If all these people suffer as a result of an arbitrary interpretation of a scheme that is designed to support the UK Leisure and Hospitality industry, that would be scandalous.”
Jodie Gray, Interim Chief Executive, English UK, www.englishuk.com

Editor's reply

Dear Jodie

Many businesses have been caught up in the nightmare of applying for grants and loans to keep going when what they want to do is get back to normal. Rate relief has been a big issue: your schools have been caught in a trap. Obviously councils and the Government should help you out. An even bigger help would be to scrap unworkable quarantine plans which risk cutting us off from the world just as recovery starts. People who want to learn here need to get here to do it.
Julian Glover, Associate Editor

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