Scottish Government Business Ventilation Fund

The Scottish Government Business Ventilation Fund aims to help Scottish businesses improve ventilation and air quality at their premises to help reduce the risk of Coronavirus transmission.

The fund will be targeted at businesses operating in high-risk settings where people come into close proximity, such as the hospitality and leisure sectors.

How much?

The fund will allow businesses to claim back costs of up to £2,500 per eligible premises to improve ventilation.

Businesses will be required to pay for the cost of improvements (with pre-approval) and claim the expenditure back once the work is complete.

The following costs can be claimed so long as the total expenditure incurred is within the overall cap of £2,500 per eligible premises:

Cost	Claim
Purchasing and installation of standalone Co2 monitors (single spaces)	Up to £200 each
Purchasing and installation of networked Co2 monitors (multiple spaces)	Up to £200 per space, £200 gateway £300-500 installation. Additional sensors (e.g., door opening, occupancy, up to £150 each
Purchasing and installation of networked Co2 monitors (mechanically ventilated spaces)	Up to £500 each
Purchase and installation of air filters/purifiers	Up to £250 each
Purchase and installation Window contact sensors	Up to £100 each
Window servicing (including assessment of needs, securing and costs of scaffolding if required)	Up to £500 each
Purchase and Installing airbricks (including assessment of needs and costs of scaffolding if required)	Up to £1,000 each
Purchase and Installing vents (including assessment of needs and costs of scaffolding if required)	Up to £100 each
Unblocking windows/small repairs/enhancements (including purchasing any necessary related products)	Up to £600 each
Purchasing and installation of small mechanical vent – extractor fan (including assessment of needs and costs of scaffolding if required)	Up to £600 each
Purchasing and installation of monitoring equipment (including monitoring for large mechanical ventilation systems)	Up to £500 each
Purchasing and fitting automatic openers for ceiling windows	Up to £200 each
Undercutting/raising non fire doors	Up to £150 each

 

Is my business eligible?

To be eligible for funding, businesses must:

• be a small or medium-sized enterprise
• be operating in an eligible sector
• have physical premises
• pay non-domestic rates
• have a rateable value of under £51,000

If the rateable value exceeds this then an individual business with an annual turnover of no more than £43m and no more than 250 employees may be eligible.

Businesses that pay rates through their landlords may also apply. Local authorities may request documentation proving this, such as a lease or a rental agreement, or other evidence showing that the applicant is explicitly or contractually liable for charges associated with non-domestic rates for the property.

Businesses that operate from single or multiple premises with an overall rateable value footprint in excess of £500,000 are NOT eligible to claim support through this funding.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-business-ventilation-fund/pages/eligibility/

What is the deadline?

Applications will be accepted until Thursday 31 March 2022 or until the fund runs out, whichever comes first.

Costs will be reimbursed to eligible businesses once the application process is complete and verified receipts for work have been submitted and approved.

Important information regarding the application process

If your business is in an eligible sector, you can start the application process.

• complete an online self-assessment form to receive advice on whether your business requires support to improve ventilation

https://web.pro-forms.co.uk/onlineForms/entry.phtml?code=ventilationfundselfassess

• if eligible for support, you will be asked to provide further details about your business and the remedial work you propose to undertake to improve ventilation
• if the proposed work is approved, you can submit receipts for work carried out and a payment of up to £2,500 will be made

Businesses that have already completed improvements to their ventilation prior to the fund opening will not be eligible to claim costs back. However, they may still be eligible for additional improvements depending on what the prior improvements involved.

Next steps

Visit the Scottish Government website to read the full guidance and complete the self-assessment form.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-business-ventilation-fund/pages/overview/

https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/service/funding/business-ventilation-fund

The information in this blog provides only an overview of Scottish Government guidance and legislation in force at the date of publication and no action should be taken without consulting the detailed Scottish Government guidance and legislation or seeking professional advice.  Therefore no responsibility for loss occasioned by any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the material contained in this blog can be accepted by the firm.

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