The (Updated) Scottish Government Coronavirus Business Support Fund

The Scottish Government Coronavirus Business Support Fund is being administered by Local Authorities. It consists of the Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund.

Eligible business ratepayers can apply for these grant funds up until 31 March 2021. The grants are aimed at helping to keep small and medium-sized companies in business and keep productive capacity so that they can recover. Their intention is to:

• Protect jobs
• Prevent business closure
• Promote economic recovery

This Fund is part of a suite of measures designed to support businesses experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19. To support as many different types, sizes, and sectors of business as is possible, recipients of one Fund may not be eligible to receive support from another. Businesses are encouraged to refrain from claiming additional grant support unless absolutely necessary and, when making this determination, to consider on the Scheme’s objectives above.

SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT FUND – Who’s eligible?

Ratepayers of businesses located in a non-domestic property on 17 March 2020 can apply to access a support fund and receive a small business support grant of £10,000 if they are:

• in receipt of the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS);
• in receipt of Rural Relief or;
• eligible for SBBS but in receipt of Nursery Relief, Disabled Relief, Fresh Start Relief, Business Growth Accelerator Relief, Enterprise Areas Relief or Discretionary Sports Relief.

From 5 May 2020, ratepayers with multiple business properties meeting these criteria are eligible to receive a one-off grant of £10,000 for their first property, and £7,500 for each subsequent qualifying property. These are only available to ratepayers whose premises were occupied on 17 March 2020 for the business uses specified.

From 5 May 2020, new arrangements will enable ratepayers of properties in the Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure sectors & previously ineligible for support to access the Small Business Grant Fund. Ratepayers operating properties in Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure where individual rateable values do not exceed £18,000 and cumulative rateable value is between £35,001 -£51,000, will now be able to apply for the Small Business Grant Fund for each of their Retail, Hospitality or Leisure properties.

RETAIL, HOSPITALITY, AND LEISURE GRANT FUND – Who’s eligible?

Ratepayers of businesses in the Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure sectors operating in premises with a rateable value between £18,001 – £51,000 inclusive can apply for a Grant of £25,000.

From 5 May 2020, ratepayers with multiple business properties which meet these criteria are eligible to receive a one-off grant of £25,000 for their first property and £18,750 for each subsequent qualifying property. These are only available to a ratepayer whose premises were occupied on 17 March 2020 for the business uses specified.

NOTES

1. a) These payments are grants.A grant awarded on a valid application, does not need to be refunded by the recipient.
   b) In each case, the rateable value & listed purpose used to assess eligibility are those on 17 March 2020(regardless of any subsequent amendment on appeal).
   c) Information provided by an applicant will be verified against other information sources held by this Council. This will assist timely application processing, fraud prevention and for auditing purposes.
   d) Councils will aim to make payment within 10 working days from receipt of a fully completed application and once all information and evidence in support of an application has been verified. Applications may be subject to delay if incomplete or incorrect details are supplied.
   e) If a grant is awarded on the basis of false or inaccurate information, it may result in arrangements being made to recover the award, and legal proceedings being initiated.

It is ASSC’s understanding that self-catering falls under the following scheme:

 SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT FUND – NON RETAIL, HOSPITALITY AND LEISURE BUSINESSES – First-time applications for a one-off £10,000 grant available for the business ratepayers of properties which had a rateable value of £18,000 or less and were, on 17 March 2020, 1) in receipt of the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS), 2) in receipt of Rural Relief, or 3) eligible for SBBS but in receipt of Nursery Relief, Disabled Relief, Fresh Start Relief, Business Growth Accelerator Relief, Enterprise Areas Relief or Discretionary Sports Relief.

SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT FUND – NON RETAIL, HOSPITALITY AND LEISURE BUSINESSES – Applications for grant support of £7,500 for additional properties which qualify under the Small Business Support Grant