The $11.5m COVID-19 recovery support fund from Bundaberg Rum is now taking applications from licensed venues across Australia.

Regardless of whether your venue is currently closed, operating as a takeaway only or is accepting customers on-site you are invited to apply. The aim of the fund is to support the recovery and rebuilding efforts of Australia’s hospitality industry through the supply of equipment and services.

Possible areas of support include:

  • essential safety equipment such as hand sanitiser and dispensers, PPE, and thermal scanners
  • mobile bars, tables, umbrellas, and take-away/disposable containers
  • consumer confidence-building through PR and media amplification

Venues can apply for immediate, medium and/or long-term support, with all the details outlined in the application process.

Bundaberg Rum said: “Immediate support will provide essential safety equipment as part of the ‘Bear Cares Safety’ package. Medium-term support will promote safe outdoor socialising through the ‘Bundy Bear Garden’ package.

“These packages will help venues host safe on-premise experiences for their patrons both indoors and outdoors. Long-term support through the ‘Bearspoke’ package will provide tailored solutions for selected venues to promote safe on-premise experiences including safe live sport viewing.

“Venues can also apply for PR and media support to help promote their venue to patrons, increase footfall in line with capacity limits, and increase consumer confidence in their COVIDsafe practices.”

Raising the Bar is also looking to help venues by providing a suite of free tools, templates and resources from the Diageo Bar Academy.

While Raising the Bar is a Bundaberg Rum initiative, you don’t need to be an existing Bundaberg Rum or Diageo customer or stockist to apply for funding. Head to the Raising the Bar website for full details on the application process.

Andy Young

Andy joined Intermedia as Editor of The Shout in 2015, writing news on a daily basis and also writing features for National Liquor News. Now Managing Editor of both The Shout and Bars and Clubs.

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