Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers
The Scottish Government has committed £17m through Creative Scotland and Screen Scotland for creative freelancers who are experiencing hardship due to lost income from work and/or practice in the creative sector due to COVID-19.
For this latest round, as well as supporting new applicants, previous recipients of the fund who have been awarded funding can also apply again for a further award of up to £2k.
For full information and how to apply, click here.
Covid Discretionary Grant Scheme
A one off £2000 business grant is available for businesses who have been unable to secure alternative grant support and have seen a significant reduction in trade – be that goods or services.
For full information and how to apply, click here.
Mobile and Home-Based Close Contact Services Fund
This fund is for owners and operators of mobile and home-based close contact service businesses and for Registered Driving Instructors.
For eligibility and to apply, click here.
Strategic Framework Business Fund
If your business is required to close by law, or you have to significantly change its operations due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for a grant.
For more information and how to apply, see the Highland Council Website.
Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund
The scheme offers a one-off £4,000 payment for those whose status as being newly self-employed makes them ineligible for the UK Government’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Self-employment Income Support Scheme.
For further information, click here.
Bounce Back Loan Scheme
The Bounce Back Loan Scheme helps small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and up to 25% of their turnover. The maximum loan available is £50,000. It is available to businesses through a number of lenders across the UK.
For more information on how to apply, click here.
Taxi & Private Hire Driver Support
If you are a licensed taxi or private hire driver experiencing financial challenge as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) you may be eligible to receive a one-off grant of £1,500.
This support is separate from and in addition to any other funding you may have received from the Scottish or UK Government, for example the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.
If you are eligible for a grant your local authority will get in touch with you, starting from week commencing 18 January 2021. You do not need to contact them.
Scotland Coach Operators
The Scotland Coach Operators – COVID-19 Business Support and Continuity Fund has been established to provide financial support for Scottish based businesses in the coach operators sector critical to Scotland’s tourism economy. The £10 million fund is being delivered by VisitScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government and has been developed with input from the Confederation of Passenger Transport.
The fund will be open for applications from 12pm on Tuesday 16 February 2021 until 5pm on Tuesday 23 February 2021. For further information click here.
Event Industry Support Funds
The Events Industry Support Fund 2 is for new applicants who were ineligible to apply to the Events Industry Support Fund. The new fund will broaden out the eligibility criteria of the original Events Industry Support Fund to capture many of those event businesses it did not reach the first-time round.
For further information, click here.
Support for Small Accommodation Providers Paying Council Tax Fund
The Support for Small Accommodation Providers Paying Council Tax Fund (SAP-CTF) is to support small accommodation providers in Scotland that pay council tax, including B&Bs, guest houses and self-catering properties, and which have been impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions.
For further information click here.
Wedding Industry Fund
This new fund aims to provide support to businesses whose main income comes from the wedding and civil partnerships industry, which has been significantly impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can apply for this fund via the Highlands & Islands Enterprise Website