Applications have opened for hospitality businesses in Poland under the KPO, the national Recovery and Resilience Plan. There is up to 540,000 zł available, which can go towards modern catering equipment and so towards upgrading or growing the business. If you own a restaurant, a bar, a guesthouse or any other catering or accommodation business in Poland, it is worth checking whether you qualify for KPO funding.
This article covers the essentials of KPO funding for the hospitality sector:
- The maximum grant available.
- Who qualifies under KPO measure A1.2.1.
- What the money can be spent on.
KPO A1.2.1 funding for hospitality: the financial rules
KPO A1.2.1 funding for the HoReCa sector is a real opportunity for catering and hotel businesses in Poland. A company can secure up to 540,000 zł towards developing the business, including buying equipment.
The terms are these. It is a non-repayable grant awarded as de minimis aid. The own contribution is only 10%, and eligible net costs can reach 600,000 zł, which gives a maximum grant of 540,000 zł. VAT is not counted as an eligible cost.
Under KPO HoReCa investment A1.2.1, businesses can count on substantial support:
- Maximum eligible costs of 600,000 zł.
- Maximum grant of 540,000 zł.
- Minimum grant of 50,000 zł.
- Funding covers up to 90% of eligible costs.
Who the support is for
KPO A1.2.1 HoReCa is aimed at micro, small and medium-sized businesses in catering, hotels, tourism and culture in Poland that saw a significant drop in turnover in 2020 and 2021 as a result of the pandemic.
To qualify, a company has to show that its revenue fell by at least 20% in 2020 or 2021 compared with the previous year. It also has to meet the definition of a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise and be eligible for de minimis aid, meaning it has not received more than €300,000 in such aid over the past three years.
The programme is split into 5 regions, each covering several Polish voivodeships. At the point of applying, the business has to be operating in the voivodeship it is applying from.
To apply for KPO A1.2.1 funding, a business has to meet the following criteria:
- Operating in hospitality, culture or tourism, confirmed by the relevant PKD code in the Polish business register.
- A documented year-on-year drop in turnover of at least 30% in 2020 or 2021.
- Qualifying as a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).
- Eligibility for de minimis aid, with the total value of such aid received over the past three years (counting from 2024) not exceeding €300,000.
PKD codes eligible to apply
PKD is the Polish Classification of Activities, the code your business is registered under.
| Division 55, ACCOMMODATION |
55.10.Z Hotels and similar accommodation 55.20.Z Holiday and other short-stay accommodation 55.30.Z Camping grounds (including sites for camper vans) and caravan parks |
| Division 56, FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICE ACTIVITIES |
56.10.A Restaurants and other permanent catering establishments 56.10.B Mobile food service activities 56.21.Z Event catering 56.29.Z Other food service activities 56.30.Z Beverage serving activities |
| Division 59, MOTION PICTURE, VIDEO, TELEVISION PROGRAMME, SOUND RECORDING AND MUSIC PUBLISHING ACTIVITIES |
59.14.Z Motion picture projection activities |
| Division 77, RENTAL AND LEASING ACTIVITIES |
77.21.Z Renting and leasing of recreational and sports goods 77.34.Z Renting and leasing of water transport equipment 77.35.Z Renting and leasing of air transport equipment |
| Division 79, TRAVEL AGENCY, TOUR OPERATOR AND OTHER RESERVATION SERVICE ACTIVITIES |
79.11.A Travel agency activities 79.11.B Travel intermediary activities 79.12.Z Tour operator activities 79.90.A Tour guide activities 79.90.B Tourist information activities 79.90.C Other reservation service activities not elsewhere classified |
| Division 82, OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT ACTIVITIES |
82.30.Z Organisation of conventions and trade shows |
| Division 85, EDUCATION |
85.51.Z Sports and recreation education |
| Division 91, LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES, MUSEUMS AND OTHER CULTURAL ACTIVITIES |
91.02.Z Museum activities 91.03.Z Operation of historical sites, buildings and similar visitor attractions 91.04.Z Botanical and zoological gardens and nature reserve activities 96.04.Z Physical well-being activities |
What KPO money can be spent on
Support under the Recovery and Resilience Plan is meant to help businesses modernise and broaden what they do. Catering and hotel businesses can use the grant for catering equipment, building work, and projects tied to the green and digital transition.
The money can also cover staff training and retraining, and even consultancy needed to modernise or diversify the business.
Grant money can go towards:
-
Investment in service or production capacity, including:
- building work,
- new production lines,
- machinery and equipment needed to introduce new products or services,
- investment tied to the green transition and to digital technology.
-
Raising staff skills, including:
- training that gives staff new skills or retrains them.
-
Development services for the SMEs receiving support, including:
- feasibility studies,
- business model work,
- technical procedures.
In practice the grant could pay for:
- modern catering equipment,
- extending the outdoor seating area,
- installing renewable energy or air conditioning in the venue.
It is also a chance to broaden what the business offers, for example:
- adding catering services,
- a café opening an outdoor service point,
- a hotel adding outdoor events.
Grants towards an espresso machine
KPO funding can go towards an espresso machine, and a good one. The kind of machine any venue would be glad to have, that makes excellent coffee and is pleasant for baristas to work on. Here are the machines that qualify for non-repayable KPO grants under the equipment replacement scheme for more energy-efficient kit:
Victoria Arduino Eagle One Prima
Victoria Arduino Eagle One
Victoria Arduino Eagle Tempo
Victoria Arduino Black Eagle Maverick
As the official Victoria Arduino distributor in Poland, we can give you the best price on these machines.
Victoria Arduino Eagle One
Interested in a grant towards catering equipment?
Leave us your details and we will call you back and quote for the equipment you need.
Sources:
https://kpo.parp.gov.pl/
https://www.parp.gov.pl/pomoc-de-minimis
https://www.gov.pl/web/planodbudowy/o-kpo
https://www.funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl/strony/o-funduszach/fundusze-na-lata-2021-2027/kpo/o-kpo/
Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility
