Small business grant scheme extended to self-catering amid Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown; Highland Council urges companies to see if they may be eligible following changes by Scottish Government

Highland Council today launched its revised guidance on behalf of the Scottish Government with grants of £10,000 and £25,000 becoming available for eligible self-catering businesses.

Recognising the concerns raised by the tourism industry, on behalf of self-caterers, the Scottish Government small business grant scheme has been expanded to include self-catering properties and caravans where receipts represent a primary source – for example one third or more – of earnings for the ratepayer and the property has been let out for 140 days or more in the financial year 2019-20.

Only one grant is allowed per ratepayer across Scotland regardless of the number of premises held.

Businesses are asked to go to the council's COVID-19 Business advice web page, complete the application form and return it by email to COVID-19self-catering-grants@highland.gov.uk

With more than 4,000 potentially eligible businesses the council is asking individual businesses to complete the application form accurately and in full – to do so will speed up the assessment process and enable grant payments to be made as quickly as possible.

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