£56m in grants awarded to Highland small businesses to help them weather Covid-19 coronavirus crisis – but take up is lower than expected, and Highland Council urges firms to make sure they aren't missing out
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MORE than £56 million of Covid-19 small business support cash has been paid out to over 5000 Highland firms.
Confirming the figures, Highland Council urged those businesses who have not yet applied to do so.
So far, the small business and self-catering grants scheme, which was set up to help companies stay in business during the coronavirus crisis, has paid out £56.29 million to 5135 of the region's businesses.
The council's head of development and regeneration, Allan Maguire, said: "We now are processing applications and approving payment within days of a business submitting a complete online application form and its accompanying evidence.
“We have around 100 businesses who have applied for grant but for whatever reason have been unable to attach the right evidence. We have asked them to promptly get the required information back to us, so we can complete the assessment of their application and get the grant paid to them”.
Based on estimates when the Scottish Government first launched and asked the council to deliver this scheme, uptake of the grant has been lower than expected.
Cllr Trish Robertson, chairwoman of the council’s economy and infrastructure committee, said: “This is a very challenging time for businesses and we are concerned that there are some in Highland who may be eligible for the grant but who have not yet applied.
"We are keen to ensure that that as many Highland businesses as possible who qualify for the grant, apply for and benefit from it. I therefore urge business owners to go to the council’s website and follow the links to the guidance and application form.”
For more information visit www.highland.gov.uk/coronavirus/businessgrant or www.highland.gov.uk/coronavirus/selfcateringbusinessgrant.
