Scottish Government Furlough Support Grant  

In our blog of 22 October 2020, we advised that the Scottish Government intended to provide grants to assist businesses that were required to close from 9 October 2020 to help meet the 20% employer’s contribution that they were due to pay under the UK Government Furlough Scheme.  This was in addition to the grants available from the Business Closure Fund and Business Hardship Fund.

The Scottish Government Furlough Support Grant fund was open to businesses in the five health boards that had to close due to increased restrictions and covers the period from 9 October to 31 October 2020.

An award of £1,650 is due for each of the business premises where at least one employee was furloughed during this period.

The Scottish Government did not initially advise how businesses could apply to the Furlough Support Grant fund.  Instead it was subsequently added to the application for Closure Fund grants via the Local Authority websites.  Businesses that applied early for the Closure Fund grants may not therefore have been given the option to apply for this grant.

We have been advised that businesses who have already applied to the Closure Fund will be contacted by their local authority to check if they are eligible for Furlough Support and there is no need to reapply.

Please click on the following link for an example of the form that is being sent out now by email from local authorities: –

Example of application form

This support was decided on before the UK Government announced the extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, also known as the Furlough Scheme, on 5  November 2020.

https://jsca.co.uk/uk-government-extends-furlough-to-end-of-march/

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.

Photo by Tomas Martinez on Unsplash