As the Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation develops, Stirling Council in collaboration with our partners: STEP, Business Gateway, Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce, The Federation of Small Businesses, Go Forth Stirling, VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise we are working hard on developing a package of measures designed to safeguard as many of Stirling’s businesses as possible as the Covid-19 crisis continues.
As a first vital step, partners have agreed to use this page as a single source of information, advice and support for Stirling’s businesses.
This page will provide you with new and existing sources of information and financial supports from a variety of sources. A range of new supports and mitigations have been announced by Scottish & UK Governments, we are working closely with the relevant agencies to develop the mechanisms for delivering these supports to businesses. As these mechanisms are developed we will publish guidance on this page and Twitter @InvestStirling. You can also email [email protected] or call 01786 498496 for assistance from our team of business advisers at Business Gateway.
Please note - when you call this number you will hear a short recorded message then your call will be put through to a business adviser. If lines are busy you will be invited to leave a message for and adviser to call you back.
Please note that all open funds can be found below. To avoid slowing down grant processing please do not call to enquire about any funds not currently listed.
Following announcements of further COVID19 Business Support, all information related to what support is available, eligibility and how to apply can be found on the Find Business Support site:
https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/coronavirus-advice
For specific information on the Hospitality Top-up Fund, please visit:
Please note that Stirling Council will not be administering the application process for this fund. This will be carried out by Scottish Government, with local authorities administering payments to businesses in January 2022
For information on the types of marine and fisheries grants and application forms click here.
Fund | Community-Lead Visitor Management Enabler Fund
Forth Valley and Lomond area we have been successful with our proposal for a Community Led Visitor Management Enabler Fund. This is funding for up to £10,000 over a 6 month period per community or business to help them move forward with the initial stages of a visitor management project to explore viability or technical aspects that are required before an application can be made for an asset transfer or larger grant application. Our area has experienced significant visitor pressure over the last 18 months so projects that address one or more issues created as a result of this increase in visitor numbers are invited to come forward. To apply for the fund send an email to Anne-Michelle Ketteridge, Forth Valley Leader Programme Manager at [email protected]
Fund | 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 head over to the Creative Scotland website.
Screen Scotland is aiming to support the growth of the screen sector through increased funding and support for film and television production, an increase in specialist staff and further investment in skills, festivals, audiences and education.
More information on the opened funds is available on screen.scot
Fund | Support Adoption For Pets Grant Programme
To support charities and not-for-profit organisations whose main activity is either:
the rescue and rehoming of UK pets
the provision of temporary support to ensure pets can remain with their owners
Funding is available through the Support Adoption for Pets website.
Grant | Forth Valley & Lomond LEADER Rural Food and Drink Business Adaptation Grant Scheme
Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER have secured £50,000 of funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Scottish Government.
Funding is to support Covid recovery and business adaptation for food and drink businesses through small grants (up to £1,000) for food and drink businesses, as part of its local food and drink activity in the rural Forth Valley and Lomond area.
Guidance and application form are available on fvl.org
Grant | NHS Forth Valley COVID Response Community Grants
Applications will be considered from organisations across Forth Valley which support and connect communities to respond to COVID-19. Grants of up to £500 are available. Apply at nhsforthvalley.com
If you are an employer, find our if you can use the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme to claim back employees' coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). More information is available on GOV.UK.
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
HelpLine | 01786 498496 | [email protected]
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.
Tourism & Hospitality Restrictions and Guidance
For more information on the latest restrictions to tourism and hospitality businesses, visit the Scottish Government's advice and information page which includes a Q&A section.
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.
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
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:
Please be aware that anyone looking for our support can do so online or via phone:
Please refer to Skills 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 ([email protected]) 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.
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.
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.
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.
