Additional Support for Business

Extension to small business and self-catering grant scheme

From today (Tuesday 5 May), the COVID-19 small business and self-catering grant scheme, set up by the Scottish Government to help companies stay in business during the coronavirus crisis, has been extended to ensure that, in addition to a 100% grant on the first property, small business rate payers will be eligible to a 75% grant on all subsequent properties.

The scheme has also been extended to include certain properties who previously were ineligible due to the cumulative rateable value of their premises. They now will be able to receive £10,000 for the first property and £7,500 for each additional eligible property.

Businesses who have additional eligible properties can now apply online via The Highland Council’s website -

https://www.highland.gov.uk/coronavirus/businessgrant

https://www.highland.gov.uk/coronavirus/selfcateringbusinessgrant

The Council is administering the grant scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government.

The Highland Council's Head of Development and Regeneration, Allan Maguire, said: “We have taken the opportunity with the extension of the grant scheme to develop an online application form. This will aid businesses when applying and help them submit the required evidence to support their application.

“Getting the required evidence has proven challenging for some applicants and has delayed the processing of grant requests. This new approach, which requires business to have all the information gathered and submitted with their application, should allow us to process claims faster”.