Scottish Government Business Support Fund
The Scottish Government introduced the Business Support Fund, which offers some businesses a:
• Retail, Hospitality, Leisure Support Grant
• Small Business Support Grant
The grants are available for eligible businesses who:
• pay non-domestic rates
• are charged for non-domestic rates but do not need to pay because they get certain rates relief – for example Small Business Bonus Scheme or charitable rate relief
• lease space from a landlord who is the registered non-domestic rate payer for the property
The closing date is 10 July 2020.
RETAIL, HOSPITALITY, LEISURE SUPPORT GRANT
Retail, hospitality and leisure businesses can apply for a grant of up to £25,000.
To apply, their rateable value needs to be between £18,001 and up to and including £500,000.
A list of eligible and ineligible businesses can be found here: Grants to help non domestic businesses during Coronavirus
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT GRANT
Small businesses can apply for a grant of up to £10,000 if they get:
• Small Business Bonus Scheme relief
• Rural Relief
You can also get this grant if you get Nursery Relief, Business Growth Accelerator Relief, Disabled Relief, Fresh Start, Sports Relief Enterprise Areas Relief or Charitable Rate Relief but are eligible for the Small Business Bonus Scheme.
Businesses who are not the ratepayer
You can now also apply for the Small Business Support Grant if you not a ratepayer but occupy certain types of space. For example shared office, business incubator or industrial space. You must lease the space from a landlord who is the registered ratepayer for the property.
If you occupy un-shared space which is leased from a landlord you may also be eligible for the grant if your landlord applies for it on your behalf.
Eligibility
To be eligible you must also:
• be a registered business or partnership
• have a lease signed before 17 March 2020
• employ at least one person
• have a business bank account
Having applied for certain other support may preclude the claim, and the relevant council website will provide details of other support taken into account in this respect.
Multiple retail, hospitality or leisure properties
If you have multiple properties and are not eligible for the Small Business Bonus Scheme, you may still be eligible for a Small Business Support Grant.
You might still be eligible for this grant, for any retail, hospitality or leisure properties with a rateable value up to £18,000 each.
All of your properties must have a combined rateable value of between £35,001 and £500,000.
A list of eligible and ineligible businesses can be found here: Grants to help non domestic businesses during Coronavirus
Multiple properties
From 5 May 2020, if you have more than one property, you can apply for a grant for each eligible property.
This means you may be able to get a £10,000 or £25,000 grant for one property. Then each property may be eligible for a:
• Small Business Support Grant of £7,500
• Retail, Hospitality, Leisure Support Grant of £18,500
These grants need to comply with the European Union’s State Aid rules.
Self-catering accommodation and caravans
Self-catering accommodation and caravans are eligible for these grants if they:
• are a primary source of income for the ratepayer (one third or more), and
• were let out for 140 days or more in financial year 2019-20
APPLYING FOR A GRANT
You need to complete an application form to apply. You can find this form on your local council website.
Your local council processes the grants and reliefs. They also make any payments due.
The closing date is 10 July 2020.
The following links give more information on how you could make an application for £10,000 or £25,000 (depending on your business type). There is a writeable PDF form online, which is very easy to complete. The aim is to have funds paid into your bank account within 10 days of your application approval. Closing date for applications is the 10 July 2020 (please note this is a new date).
Scottish Borders Council downloadable PDF
Edinburgh Council downloadable PDF
Other regions in Scotland – please enter your regional council
If any assistance is required please get in touch via email or call 01450 372267 and your call will be managed accordingly.
Note – Please remember to sign the applications (this can be a separate sheet or a photo) and to attach a bank statement from the last 3 months. Bank statement can be a screen grab of online account if easier.
