The Herefordshire visitor economy has been severely impacted by Covid 19 and the resulting lockdown. Tourism accommodation and attractions, cultural venues, hospitality businesses, non-essential retailers were instructed by government to close for circa 3 months during the start of their usual peak season period. This has significantly threatened the viability of these businesses, and put at risk of redundancy the large numbers of people they employ.

In May the Marches LEP allocated £444,220 to Herefordshire to support Covid 19 economic recovery, subject to the development of a business case. Herefordshire Council in partnership with the Herefordshire Business Board established and submitted a business case focussed on supporting the soonest possible recovery of the visitor economy. Shropshire Council (as the accountable body) on behalf of the Marches LEP issued a funding offer letter to Herefordshire Council on the 17 June, and the Cabinet Member for Environment Economy and Skills took a decision to accept the grant and implement the project on the 20 June.

Recognising the need to engage with visitor economy businesses to co-ordinate delivery and to seek relevant expertise, a project steering group was formed in June 2020.

The development of a modern visitor website, with a range of new content and functionality in order to compete with similar destinations has been identified as a critical by the project steering group and in the marketing plan. Recognising the need to seek appropriate expertise to deliver the visitor website the procurement will be taken in accordance with the council’s contract procedure rules.