Support Extended for Hospitality, Retail and Leisure Businesses

The Scottish Government has announced top up grants for Hospitality, Retail and Leisure businesses currently closed by level 4 restrictions.

In addition to the grants that businesses can get via the Strategic Business Framework Fund, eligible businesses will also be paid a one off grant of: –

• £25,000 for larger hospitality businesses on top of the 4-weekly £3,000. This is for hospitality businesses with a rateable value of £51,001 or more.
• £6,000 for smaller hospitality businesses on top of the 4-weekly £2,000. This is for hospitality businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or less.
• £9,000 for larger retail and leisure businesses on top of the 4-weekly £3,000. This is for retail and leisure businesses with a rateable value of £51,001 or more.
• £6,000 for smaller retail and leisure businesses on top of the 4-weekly £2,000. This is for retail and leisure businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or less

Eligible businesses, that have already applied for the 4-weekly payment from the Strategic Business Framework Fund should, in most cases, receive an automatic top up.  This will be combined with the next Strategic Framework Business Fund grant due to be paid on 25 January 2021.

Only businesses in the Hospitality, Retail and Leisure sectors that have to close under the Level 4 restrictions qualify for the top up grants.  These are defined as follows:-

Hospitality

• Bar
• Café
• Pub
• Restaurant
• Social club

Leisure and entertainment

• Arcade
• Bingo hall
• Casino
• Cinema
• Comedy club
• Concert hall
• Conference or exhibition centre
• Funfair
• Indoor bowling
• Nightclub
• Snooker or pool hall
• Soft play
• Sport Stadium
• Theatre
• Visitor attractions

Retail

• Garden centre and plant nurseries
• Homeware store (not supplier of products or tools for building work and repairs)
• Non-essential retail
• Showroom (residential property installation, kitchen, bathroom, furniture or glazing)
• Tanning salon (operating self tanning machine or spray tan booth)
• Travel agency

Note that other businesses qualify for the Strategic Business Closure Fund closure grants but DO NOT qualify for the one off top up grants. These are as follows:-

Accommodation

• Bed and breakfast
• Campsite
• Caravan
• Hotel
• Self-catering

Close contact and personal care

• Barber
• Beauticians
• Beauty and nail services (including make-up)
• Complementary and alternative medicine (requiring physical contact or close proximity)
• Dress fitting and tailoring
• Fashion designer
• Hairdresser
• Hair removal, tattoo, piercing and body modification
• Indoor portrait photography and art services
• Massage therapy (not sports massage provided to sports professionals)
• Tailor

Sports and exercise

• Dance studio
• Exercise class/yoga studio
• Indoor gym
• Indoor soccer centres
• Swimming pool

If your business is eligible for a grant from the Strategic Business Framework Fund and the top up grant, and you have not already claimed this, you should apply as soon as possible via your local authority website.

https://jsca.co.uk/scottish-government-strategic-framework-business-fund-temporary-closure-and-business-restrictions-grants-2/

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 Tim Mossholder on Unsplash