Highland Council helps more than 2300 businesses obtain a small business and self-catering grant during coronavirus pandemic
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The Covid-19 small business and self-catering grant scheme, set up to help companies stay in business during the pandemic, has now paid out £26.89 million to 2341 Highland businesses.
The latest figures show that grants were given to 1341 businesses, to the value of £14.8 million, within the past week alone.
Highland Council's head of development and regeneration Allan Maguire said: "Unfortunately, over 70 per cent of all business grant applications received are incomplete.
"Over 600 incomplete applications have been worked on over the past week, all information has now been secured from businesses, which will allow the applications to be processed and grants paid. However, this extra work has led to inevitable delays and has hampered early payment of grants. Please follow the guidance on the website."
He added: "Efforts will continue in the coming week to reduce the application backlog and ensure that application forms which are submitted and complete are processed as quickly as possible."
On Thursday, the council will be launching the self employed hardship fund and inviting applications from eligible individuals.
The council will be delivering this grant scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government and final details are currently being worked on.
The council is looking to have an online form developed to help self-employed people to apply and secure the grant as quickly as possible, with more details expected next week.
