Tag: Business Support

£60 million for newly self-employed, close contact businesses and driving instructors.

Two funds to support people whose livelihoods have been affected by the pandemic are now open to applications

Grants will be available for mobile and home-based close contact service businesses – such as make-up artists and hairdressers – as well as registered driving instructors.

The Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund, which paid out more than £11 million in vital support last year, will also re-open for a second round.

Both funds will provide £4,000 grants to successful applicants. Full eligibility details are available online.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said:

“These new funds will support harder to reach businesses and newly self-employed people across Scotland as we continue to focus our efforts on helping those who are not captured by UK Government schemes.

“We’ve committed more than £3 billion to support businesses and protect jobs during the pandemic and I would encourage all those affected to check what support is available to help them through such a challenging time.”

Background

Full information on the Mobile and Home-Based Close Contact Services Fund and the Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund

Statistics published last week showed £244 million was paid to businesses through three funds in January alone.

COVID-19 advice and funding information is available via the Find Business Support website.

£7.3 million for travel agents, brewers and indoor football centres.

Three new funds to support businesses uniquely affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will launch this week.

From today, local authorities will start to approach brewers, travel agents and indoor football centres inviting them to claim grants of £10,000 or £25,000. A higher payment of £30,000 will be available to the largest brewers.

Councils will brief around 400 eligible businesses on their potential entitlement and ask them to provide supporting information and bank account details. Owners do not need to apply, or contact the local authority.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said:

“We started 2021 in a way none of us envisaged nor wanted, with additional measures in place to limit the spread of the new strain of COVID-19, protect our NHS and save lives.

“These funds recognise the unprecedented challenges that brewers, travel agents and indoor football centres have experienced since March as a result of necessary restrictions.

“We are acutely aware that this support can never compensate for the full impact on business, but we must work within the resources that are available to us, and we continue to respond to the evolving economic challenges arising from the pandemic.”

Background

The Scottish Government has allocated £3 billion in business support since the start of the pandemic on top of support available through the UK Government.

Grants available:

• £10,000 for premises which have a rateable value of up to and including £18,000
• £25,000 for premises which have a rateable value of £18,001 or above
• £30,000 for brewers only operating a property with a rateable value of over £51,000 or production over 5,000HL in 2019

More information on the Brewers Support Fund

More information on Support for Travel Agents

More information on Support for Indoor Football Centres

January grants top-up announced.

A significant top-up to the grant support available for hospitality, retail and leisure businesses across Scotland closed by level 4 restrictions will be paid following an announcement by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes.

In addition to the grants businesses receive through the Strategic Business Framework Fund, eligible businesses will also get a one off grant of:

• £25,000 for larger hospitality businesses on top of the 4-weekly £3,000
• £6,000 for smaller hospitality businesses on top of the 4-weekly £2,000
• £9,000 for larger retail and leisure businesses on top of the 4-weekly £3,000
• £6,000 for smaller retail and leisure businesses on top of the 4-weekly £2,000

In most cases, eligible businesses that have already applied for the 4-weekly payment from the Strategic Framework Business Fund will get an automatic top-up.

For the majority, this top-up will be combined with the next tranche of payment for the Strategic Framework Business Fund due to go to businesses on 25 January.

Businesses that haven’t yet applied for either of these funds should submit an application as soon as possible through their local authority website. Applications are now open.

Ms Forbes said:

“Since the start of the pandemic Scottish Government support for business and the economy has reached almost £3 billion – more than a third of our total coronavirus (COVID-19) funding, demonstrating our commitment to provide as much help as we possibly can to our businesses.

“As promised, this additional support for hospitality, retail and leisure businesses will be available this month, in some cases doubling or tripling the amount of support we are providing. Applications are open now and payment will be made this month.

“Crucially this essential funding will also help to close the gaps in UK wide support for these impacted sectors and our one-off support for larger hospitality premises of £25,000 is considerably more generous than the £9,000 grant on offer in England.

“I’d encourage all eligible businesses to apply through their local authority if they have not done so already. Of course we are acutely aware that this support can never compensate for the full impact on business, but we must work within the resources that are available to us, and we continue to respond to the evolving economic challenges arising from the pandemic.”

David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium said:

“Shops and high streets across Scotland have been left reeling by coronavirus. These enhanced cash grants for retail business are a financial lifeline which will help non-essential stores through the current phase of being unable to open and trade.

“There isn’t a taxpayer-funded support scheme which can replace the potential losses of store closures, so it is very encouraging that the Finance Secretary has listened and responded positively.”

Background:

• larger hospitality businesses are those with a rateable value of £51,001 or more
• smaller hospitality businesses are those with a rateable value of £51,000 or less
• larger retail and leisure businesses are those with a rateable value of £51,001
• smaller retail and leisure businesses are those with a rateable value of £51,000 or less

For more information visit Find Business Support 

Businesses can apply for a grant of up to £11millon pounds to help them cover the costs accrued during the current round of restrictions.

Following the re-introduction of COVID-19 restrictions on Fri 9th October, eligible Dundee hospitality, supply chain, and gym businesses may be entitled to financial relief.

As of 9am on Tuesday 20th October, applications to the Scottish Government’s COVID-19 Restrictions Business Hardship Fund, administered by Dundee City Council, can be made for the payment.

Qualifying organisations include hospitality businesses or gym premises who have been required to operate in a restricted capacity due to the regulations. Producer or wholesale supply chain companies who can evidence a reduction of 25% in their turnover since the recent restrictions were brought in should also apply.

City Development Convener, Councillor Mark Flynn said: “The one-off payment to businesses affected by the new measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, can be eligible for up £1,500 depending on their business’s rateable value.

“We know there are 344 companies in Dundee which will have been affected in varying ways by the 16-day restrictions, and I would urge businesses planning on applying to do so with plenty time.

“Like the previous Business Support Grant payments, we will work to get applications processed and the lifeline support to eligible businesses as quickly as we can.”

The COVID-19 Restrictions Business Hardship Fund is open from Tues 20th October until Tuesday 3rd November for affected businesses to apply.

More information on the support, eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on the Dundee City Council website(link is external).