Businesses have hailed Basildon Council for spearheading a fundraising drive to support hospitality workers hit hard during the pandemic.

The new Keep the Lights On campaign has been launched by the council following talks with 35 Basildon hospitality companies.

Council leader, Gavin Callaghan, met with bosses to discuss additional support for their staff who have been out of work over the Christmas period as a result of Covid-19.

Casual workers aren’t eligible for furlough and have been left without any financial support throughout the pandemic.

Enes Sanli, owner of Plush restaurant, said: “We really appreciate that our council is taking care of businesses.  “Hospitality businesses have been severely affected by Covid-19. We lost 80 per cent of our income.

“We are open for takeaways, but it doesn’t cover the costs of rent and electricity.  “The council help a bit with rent, but it’s not enough.

“It’s a good idea because with these kinds of charity trust funds the council will distribute it to those who really need it.  “Not all hospitality businesses have the same expenses. Some of them have fewer expenses, some have high expenses. If they do this for the hospitality businesses who need it most, then we’ll be grateful.

“We are happy that Basildon Council are doing this and we hope that the council will help us to survive.”

Adam Hussain, managing director of Basil Spice, told the Echo how his part-time staff have suffered the most from Covid restrictions.  Mr Hussain said: “I think it’s good because mainly those who suffer most is my part timers, who work all throughout the year and look forward to Christmas.

“I have a few 18-year-olds who work for me and they look forward to Christmas for tips, so they’ve really suffered.

“I think it’s very beneficial, but it all comes down to how they distribute it. If they’re distributing it out equally then something is better than nothing and I’m sure all of the staff will appreciate it. It’s been a tough Christmas for some of them.  “It’s not for me personally, it’s more for my staff because your business is only as good as your staff.”

Steve Haslam, managing director of TLC Inns, said: “I’m fully behind it because the hospitality, along with other industries such as airlines, have been badly hit in 2020. It would receive my full support because I don’t think at this moment in time businesses, particularly hospitality, have had enough support given the amount of trading they’ve lost in the year and continue to lose.

“Any support will undoubtedly save jobs in our industry.”

Mr  Callaghan is looking to the council’s corporate sponsors and big partners to support this campaign.

Mr Callaghan said: “I think this is a really positive campaign that we’re running. We’ve said the whole way through the pandemic that we will keep looking and reviewing what financial packages are available for various different people.  “One of the key things that we know is that seasonal staff and casual staff are slipping through the net. These are people who are not able to claim furlough.  “We put a campaign together called Keep the Lights On and this came after I met with 35 hospitality businesses and spoke to them about what support they’re giving their staff and what they would like.  “These businesses would have liked to be able to give people money but clearly their income has taken such a massive hit that they haven’t been able to financially support their staff.  “We’re looking for the council’s corporate sponsors, our big partners to support this as well. Lots of housing developers, people who do a lot of work with us on the council, I want all of them to show their support for Basildon’s workers and put their hand in their pocket and give us that support so we can get some money to these people who have taken a huge hit on their income.”