Guidance and Support for businesses
Community and Third Sector Recovery Programme
The programme aims to support charities, community groups, social enterprises and voluntary organisations that are supporting people and communities through the shift from lockdown to recovery. The programme has two strands: Adapt & Thrive Programme and Communities Recovery Fund. Details and application form available here.
NEW|Towns and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) Resilience and Recovery Fund
The fund aims supports small businesses in town centres and high streets in Plean, Cowie, Fallin, and Throsk, Bannockburn, St Ninians, Raploch and Cornton during the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses in these areas can apply for funds of up to £200 from this Scottish Government fund. It is aimed at supporting business to cover the costs of essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). You can access the criteria and the application form here.
The campaign is a national initiative which aims to encourage Scots to shop and eat local and to rediscover what is on their doorsteps. Think local and support the shops and restaurants in Scotland in line with the public health guidelines. You can find more about the campaign on Love Local.
Bounce Back Loans| Open for Applications
A 100% government backed loan scheme for small businesses. The new "Bounce Back Loan" scheme is now open for applications. Business can borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 and have access to the cash within days. During the first 12 months on the loan term, no interest or repayments will be payable by the business.
For more information and how to apply, click here.
HMRC Job Retention (Furlough) Portal Extended
Employers who have furloughed staff can now apply to HMRC for 80% of employee wages. The portal, along with instructions for application, can be found here. The scheme has been extended until the end of October 2020.
Self-employed Income Support Scheme
The Chancellor has announced plans to support the self-employed. This consists of 80% of your profits up to maximum of £2,500 per month and will be calculated based on your previous three years’ tax returns. These payments are unlikely to be processed until June. In the meantime, any self-employed workers who have not already done so are being encouraged to submit this year’s tax return within the next 4 weeks and can access existing supports such as Universal Credit and business continuity loans.
You can read the full announcement here.
Creative Scotland Open Fund | Open
Launched in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic to help sustain the arts sector through this crisis. The Open Fund is for individuals and organisations in the creative industries, with grants from £1,000 to £50,000. The total fund value is £7.5million and is open for the next 12 months. For more information and how to apply click here.
Business Support Summary
We have collated the range of business supports available into one document to help you find the right help for you. We will update this guide on a regular basis. You can access the document here: Covid-19 Business Support Summary.pdf
Reopening Your Business During the Coronavirus Pandemic
As businesses are planning to reopen as part of phase two and three of the route map to recovery, Stirling Council has created a document with measures to help support the safe reopening of hospitality venues. The measures are for consideration by Food Business Operators (FBO) when they are re-opening a business that has been closed due to Coronavirus Restrictions. You can access the document here: SC Final Food business advice - reopening during Covid-19 restrictions.pdf
HelpLine | 01786 498496 | investinstirling@stirling.gov.uk
A dedicated helpline and email enquiry service is in the process of being established. Experienced business advisers will be on hand to help you access vital support.
We have created a page for employers urgently seeking to recruit to help with growing demands in key sectors. For information and to submit a post, click here.
Skills Development Scotland | Support available
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) have issued reassurance that they are continuing to support individuals, employers, local services and partners through the effects of this crisis and have issued the following update:
- SDS is continuing to provide career information, advice and guidance for all people.
- we are working with the Scottish Government and other partners to ensure our PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) service offer is responsive to the emerging situation with updates posted to SDS’s website.
- we are already working with individual learners and apprentices, employers, learning providers and awarding bodies to support them and ensure that the effects of disruption are minimised and wherever possible, that they and are not negatively impacted in the longer term.
Please be aware that anyone looking for our support can do so online or via phone:
- for PACE support, individuals and employers can call the helpline on 0800 917 8000 or visit redundancyscotland.co.uk.
- SDS Careers Advisers are continuing to offer support to individuals via telephone, Skype or online. To speak to a Careers Adviser, call your local SDS team. Or visit My World of Work.
Please refer toSkills Development Scotland’s website where we will be posting regular updates on our services during this time.
For matters relating to the Stirling area, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me (grant.mcdougall@sds.co.uk) or Val Ormiston, SDS Area Manager for Stirling Council, if you would like to discuss the above information or any other related matter today, or in the days and weeks to come.
The Scottish Government announced new measures to limit the impact of COVID-19 during Financial Year 2020/21. As soon as further details are provided, we will ensure that relevant information is made available.
£2.2billion package of support for businesses | New measures to limit the impact of COVID-19 on the business community in Scotland have been announced by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes. Steps will be put in place to support businesses during the 2020-21 financial year.
UK Government support package | The UK Government has announced a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. This includes Government backed loans, grant funding, statutory sick pay relief and HMRC Time To Pay Scheme.
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) | CBILS is a new scheme, announced by The Chancellor at Budget 2020, that can provide facilities of up to £5m for smaller businesses across the UK who are experiencing lost or deferred revenues, leading to disruption to their cashflow. The scheme is now open to apply.
Business Gateway Virtual and Business Support | are delivering virtual advisory and workshop services. Their advisers can offer free support with a wide range of business matters including continuity planning, managing cashflow and dealing with suppliers.
Practical advice for managing Covid-19 virus
Health Protection Scotland | has information on guidance, data and surveillance, publications and incident and outbreaks.
It has also added new guidance on coronavirus that includes workplace advice such as hotels and hospitality settings where a guest may need to self-isolate in a hotel or holiday accommodation. Read the guidance.
NHS inform | has information on the virus itself, common questions related to health, self-isolation advice for people without symptoms and information for professionals.
NHS Covid-19 communication toolkit - contains a poster, video and social media posts for organisations to print and share.
