Seasonal Worker Incentive

The Hospitality, Retail & Tourism Worker Incentive is available under Appendix 14 of the Financial Assistance Scheme and seeks to support the expansion of the Island’s tourism and hospitality workforce.

Support Available

Features:

  • £1,000 grant per employee, paid retrospectively.
  • 50% of grant (£500) paid to business after presenting the first month's payslip of new employee and remaining 50% (£500) paid to business after presenting new employee's sixth month's payslip.

To be eligible:

  • First £500 - the employee's first month's payslip must show that they have been paid at least minimum wage and contracted to a minimum of 30 hours per week 
  • Second £500 - the business must evidence the employee's sixth months' payslips which must show that they have been paid at least minimum wage and contracted to a minimum of 30 hours per week

The £1,000 grant is to be used at the business’s discretion but it is encouraged to support the employee with their relocation to the Island.

If, on application for this grant, the business indicates that they will use it to provide an enhanced or differentiated employee package for either a £500 upfront cash payment to support the cost of accommodation or to make accommodation available to the employee, the business will be eligible to be included in the marketing campaign.

Eligibility criteria

  • must be in an eligible sector (outlined in the guidance);

  • must have a permanent establishment/place of business in the Island;

  • must be an eligible business under the Regulations (outlined in guidance);

  • must be up to date with all tax (including VAT) and National Insurance obligations including returns and payments.

  • must constitute a full time, fixed-term / seasonal contract of employment; 
  • must pay the eligible employee at least the minimum wage and be contracted to a minimum of 30 hours per week (all calculations exclude overtime and other benefits);
  • must not be an excluded employment (outlined in guidance).

The Employee

  • must be directly employed by the business;

  • their work must take place predominantly on the Island;

    except for the 3 months prior to employment must not have been resident on the Island for income tax purposes for any of the previous 6 years unless classed as a Manx Student;
  • must be resident on the Island for the period of employment in respect of which the grant is claimed and national insurance and ITIP must be deducted from the salary paid;

  • if a Manx Student the employee must provide evidence that they are in their last year of study

Eligible businesses recruiting into the tourism, hospitality and retail sectors and the fishing and seafood processing sector with applicants meeting the eligibility criteria may apply for financial assistance. 

Please check the guidance for excluded employments.

Scheme Guidelines
Application Form

Looking for more?

The Department for Enterprise offers a range of funding and support schemes for businesses and self-employed individuals in the Isle of Man. You'll find a full list by clicking below.