Launch of Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund
30th April 2020
From today, newly self-employed individuals who have not been able to access support through other schemes will be able to apply for a one-off grant of £2,000.
Following the launch of the Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund by Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture, Fiona Hyslop MSP, Highland Council has been asked to administer the fund for Newly Self-Employed businesses within the Highland Council area.
Councillor Margaret Davidson Leader of the Council said: "A one-off grant of £2,000 is available for newly self-employed individuals who are experiencing hardship as a result of losing income due to the coronavirus outbreak. This is a very welcome addition for those individuals who are not eligible for the UK Government's Coronavirus Self-Employment Income Support Scheme or other forms of COVID-19 business support, and who are not in receipt of working age benefits.
"Newly self-employed individuals are encouraged to go to the Council's Newly Self Employed webpage to determine whether they are eligible and to follow the guidance available on the website prior to submitting the online application form. The scheme is open to people who became self-employed on/after 6th April but have not yet submitted a tax return including income from self-employment for 2018-19. See https://www.highland.gov.uk/coronavirus/newlyselfemployed
"The Scottish Government has given Highland Council an initial allocation of £812,433 to provide these grants. Further funding may become available to meet demand but this is not assured and the Council will operate the grant scheme as long as funds last. Completed applications will therefore be dealt with on a first come first served basis. We understand the importance of these grants and will be working with the highest degree of urgency to process applications."
Other self-employed businesses who do not qualify for this funding can find information on support available at Sources of Funding or Business Coronavirus Support Finder
See
https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/coronavirus-advice/sources-of-funding
https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder
Related Businesses
Related Articles
First full meeting of Recovery Board meets
The first full meeting of the Highland Council Recovery Board met (virtually) today (4 June 2020). The full membership reflects political balance with 11 Members and 3 senior officers.First full meeting of Recovery Board meets
The first full meeting of the Highland Council Recovery Board met (virtually) today (4 June 2020). The full membership reflects political balance with 11 Members and 3 senior officers.Public Praised As 14 Highland Household Waste And Recycling Centres Successfully Reopen
On Monday (1 June) The Highland Council reopened 14 Household Waste and Recycling Centres across the Highlands to allow people to drop off their garden waste and bagged household waste. The last few days have been a success with the phased approach to the re-opening working well.
Budget impact of Covid-19 on Highland Council
Councillors taking part in today's virtual Corporate Resources Committee were left in no doubt about the significant and serious impact COVID-19 continues to have on the budget of The Highland Council. The scale and immediacy of financial challenges to be faced were laid out in a report that modelled two different potential scenarios - in the ‘mid case' scenario, a budget gap of £65.7m is projected, and in the most severe, a potential gap of £96.9m is projected.Council Reports A Successful Year End Position For 2019-20
The Highland Council has reported a successful year end position for 2019-20 delivering £18M of a 3-year savings plan and an underspend of £7.526m. The Council's unearmarked reserves, which act as a general contingency against unforeseen events or to meet unbudgeted costs, stand at £15.451M at 31 March 2020, having almost doubled over the year due to the in-year budget surplus.Parents Encouraged To Apply For Best Start Grant School Age Payment
Extra cash in the pockets of low income families Eligible parents of children aged four and five are being encouraged to apply for financial support worth £250. The one-off £250 payment is currently open to eligible families with a child who was born between 1 March 2015 and 29 February 2016 and who is old enough to start primary one this year.Essential works to commence on Inverness West Link
Works on the Inverness West Link Stage 2 were suspended on the 24 March 2020 following COVID-19 guidance from the Scottish Government. The Highland Council has been in dialogue with Contractors RJ McLeod and has agreed that essential works are required to begin to address safety issues but primarily the works to be undertaken are to provide for physical distancing and encourage active travel, walking, wheeling and cycling as part of, and to augment the successful Spaces for People project.Over 5,500 Highland businesses helped by COVID-19 small business and self-catering grant schemes
The COVID-19 small business and self-catering grant schemes, set up to help companies stay in business during the coronavirus crisis, have now paid out £59,628,750 to over 5500 Highland businesses. The Council has now processed 99% of the applications received since the grant schemes opened.
Schools Re-opening Guidance
Blueprint for safe return to classes. Detailed guidance on practical measures to allow schools to re-open on 11 August has been published.Back to school and learning - ‘carefully and gradually'
The Highland Council is assessing the implications of the First Minister's announcements made on the 21st May about the first stage relaxation of lockdown, concerning teachers and other education staff returning to the workplace during June to prepare for the return to school and settings on 11th August. Highland Council's Education Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: "The return to workplace and Highland schools for our Education staff will have to be undertaken carefully and gradually.Information
Useful Links
What's On
Submissions
Newsfeed / RSS
