Scottish Government – Business Closure Grants

If your business is required to close by law or to significantly change its operations due to COVID-19 restrictions from 2 November 2020, you may be eligible for grant funding through The Strategic Framework Business Fund.

Available grants

  • Temporary closure grant - £2,000 or £3,000 (depending on rateable value) if your business is required to close by law.

  • Business restrictions grants - £1,400 or £2,100 (depending on rateable value) if your business can remain open but is specifically required to modify its operations by law, for example having to close earlier than normal.

Grants will be paid every 4 weeks in arrears as long as restrictions last. If you have already made an application to the Fund, you do not need to make another application when the level of restrictions moves up or down. Your previous application remains valid. Applications can be made up to 31st March 2021.

Multiple premises - grants

From 1st January 2021, there will no longer be an upper limit future payments for any eligible businesses operating multiple premises. Businesses already in receipt of payments need not reapply. Businesses applying for the first time on or after 1st January 2021, should submit individual applications to each relevant local authority for all relevant premises in that area.

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria for these grants can be checked here.

How to apply

  • Applications must be made via your local authority website.

  • All premises should be included in one application, which should be sent to the local authority area in which your business is headquartered.

  • The first payment of grant funding is due on or around 30 November 2020.

  • Local authority websites will be updated during the week of 9th November 2020 to allow eligible businesses to apply.

Non essential Retail and Leisure January 2021 payment

On 11th January 2021, additional support for non-essential retail and leisure businesses (such as indoor gyms), which are required to close in Level 4 was increased.

Eligible retail and leisure businesses will receive:

  • A one-off grant of £9,000 for all relevant businesses with a rateable value of £51,001 or more (on top of the 4 weekly £3,000),

  • A one-off grant of £6,000 for relevant businesses with a rateable value of up to and including £51,000 (on top of the 4 weekly £2,000).

Businesses can claim this funding through their local authority website if they have not already submitted an application to The Strategic Framework Business Fund.  Non-essential retail and gyms already in receipt of payments are eligible and do not need to reapply.

To receive this top up payment, you must apply for The Strategic Framework Business Fund by 5th February 2021.

Hospitality January 2021 payment

The one-off payments for eligible hospitality businesses required to close in Level 4 was also increased on 11th January 2021.

Hospitality businesses that have applied for and are eligible to a payment of up to £3,000 from The Strategic Framework Business Fund will now receive:

  • A one-off grant of £25,000 for premises with a rateable value of £51,001 or more ( on top of the 4 weekly £3,000),

  • A one -off grant of £6,000 for premises with a rateable value of up to and including £51,001 (on top of the 4 weekly £2,000).

Businesses can claim this funding through their local authority website, if they have not already submitted an application to The Strategic Framework Business Fund.  Hospitality premises already in receipt of payments are eligible and do not need to reapply.

To receive this top up payment, you must apply for The Strategic Framework Business Fund by 5th February 2021.

Further Support

A new package of business support worth £185 million will be made available in early 2021.  The support will target specific sectors including, but not limited to:

  • Wedding sector - see update below.

  • Events sector

  • Travel agents and inbound tour operators - see update below.

  • Accommodation services, including self-catering, hotels, B&Bs, and guest houses

  • Outdoor tourism sector

  • Licensed taxi and private hire drivers - see update below.

  • Mobile close contact services

  • Arts sector

Businesses can expect to be able to apply in January 2021.

Taxi and Private Hire Driver Support Fund

If you are a licensed taxi or private hire driver experiencing financial challenges as a result of COVID-19, you may be eligible to receive a one-off grant of £1,500.  This support is separate from and in addition to any other funding you may have received from the Scottish or UK Government, for example the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) or the COVID-19 Public Transport Mitigation Fund.

If you are eligible for a grant your local authority will get in touch with you, starting the week commencing 18th January 2021.  You do not need to contact them.

Further details are available at Taxi and Private Hire Driver Support Fund.

Scottish Wedding Industry Fund

Launching on Thursday 28th January 2021, the fund aims to provide support to businesses whose main income comes from the wedding and civil partnership industry.  One-off grants of between £5,000 and up to £25,000 will be available for eligible businesses in the wedding sector who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. 

The fund will be managed regionally by Scotland’s three enterprise agencies – Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Further details on eligibility and how to apply can be found at Scottish Wedding Industry Fund.

Scotland Inbound Tour Operators Fund – COVID19 Business Support and Continuity Fund

The Scotland Inbound Tour Operators Fund has been established to provide financial support for businesses who operate in Scotland as inbound tour operators and destination management companies, promoting and selling packaged products (Scotland holidays) to international markets.  The £6million fund is being delivered by VisitScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Demand is expected to be high across the sector.

Application to this fund is a two part process – Expression of Interest (part 1) and Application stage (part 2).  Expression of Interest (part 1) can be submitted from Friday 22nd January 2021until Friday 29th January 2021 at 5pm.

Further details about this fund can be found at VisitScotland.org.