Coronavirus: Support For Highland Businesses - Check Grants Available
11th February 2021
Grant Schemes delivered by Highland Council
The Scottish Government have asked the Council to deliver a number of business grant schemes on their behalf. The Scottish Government provide the funds for these grant schemes and also define the criteria to be used and who is to benefit from the grant.
The main grant scheme currently being delivered, is the Strategic Framework Business Fund. The Strategic Framework Business Fund has two elements to it. One is a Temporary Closure Grant for when a business must close by regulation, while the other is a Business Restrictions Grant for when the business must operate in a restricted way as a result of the Coronavirus protective measures.
In addition to the current Temporary Closure Grant the Scottish Government also had made available a Top-up grant support for businesses in the Hospitality, Retail and Leisure sectors. If you have not already secured a Restriction Grant or have not applied for a Temporary Closure Grant (before 5 February 2021), you will be unable to secure this top-up grant. This was a deadline set by the Scottish Government.
We are delivering on behalf of the Scottish Government a grant scheme to assist eligible Taxi and Private Hire Drivers in Scotland with fixed costs including licence plate fees, rental fees and insurance payments for taxis not on the road. Financial assistance will be paid, as a one-off grant of £1,500 for each individual licensed taxi or private hire driver.
We have just launched our Discretionary Grant Scheme. This is a one off £2,000 business grant payable to businesses who have been unable to secure alternative grant support and have seen a significant reduction in trade - be that goods or services.
The grant scheme was launched on 10 February 2021 and businesses have three weeks until 3 March 2021 to send in their completed application forms.