Surrey County Cricket Club has returned the money it received last year for the Covid19 furlough scheme to the UK Government.
The decision was made by the Club after it recorded a £5.4m pre-tax profit for the 2021/22 financial year, a recovery from the pandemic induced £1.2m loss that was recorded the previous year.
The Covid19 furlough scheme saw the government pay 80% of employees’ wages, up to £2,500 if they were ‘furloughed’ and not coming into work because of the Covid19 pandemic. It was reduced to 70% in July 2021, 60% in August and September and removed entirely from October onwards.
Given last year’s gradual ramp up of crowd sizes at The Kia Oval, many Surrey CCC employees were taken off the furlough scheme in the middle of summer to help prepare for and deliver major events at the ground, including a One Day International between England and Sri Lanka, the Test Match between England and India and games in the new Hundred competition.
Richard Thompson, Chair of Surrey CCC, said: “Given the profit made by the Club in the 2021/22 season, we felt that the contribution made by UK taxpayers to help keep us on our feet during the year should be returned to the government.
“We remain extremely grateful for the support provided by the government during the Covid19 pandemic, particularly during the 2020/21 financial year when the ground was only able to host a total of 4,500 fans throughout the summer.”
