B&B grant may not be enough support
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NEW support for owners of small B&Bs could be too little, too late according to city operators.
An original hardship scheme set up for businesses struggling because of the coronavirus crisis was not open to those who either did not have a business bank account or pay business rates.
As of June 15, however, those with only personal bank accounts will be able to apply for up to £3000 through a scheme administered by local authorities.
Finance Secretary and Highland MSP Kate Forbes said: “I realise that many people are facing significant difficulties as we look ahead to a challenging tourist season, and also that this funding will not replace the lost income.
“I do hope, however, that it offers some help.”
It was welcomed by Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Edward Mountain who had been pushing for a change to the rules through his Help Our B&Bs campaign.
“Businesses who operate without business bank accounts should never have been ineligible for funding in the first place,” he said.
“If the Cabinet Secretary for Finance had been more aware of the reality of how small businesses operate, then this fiasco could have been prevented.”
However Richie Paxton, who owns Westbourne Guest House in Huntly Street in Inverness, said: “It will help, but I think it is too little, too late.
“Everything seems to be done at the last minute.
“What annoys me is the people making the decisions have not been self-employed. They don’t know the situation we are in.”
Daniel Mackenzie-Winters, chairman of the Inverness and District B&B Association said: “We welcome the new funding which will be open for B&Bs without business bank accounts, but this should have been sorted out five weeks ago when we first raised this issue, and the Scottish Government has dragged their heels.
“Some B&B owners have already had to resort to Universal Credit.
“The first Tourism Hardship Fund opened in April and yet many applicants are still waiting to hear whether they have been successful, while other have been refused and given no reason.
“One-off grant payments aren’t going to be enough to get through months without tourists.”
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