20th October 2020

Please note this fund closed to new applications at 5pm on Tuesday 3rd November 2020.

A new Fund that will support local businesses during the latest phase of restrictions will be available from this morning (Tuesday 20 October, 9am).

The Scottish Government has announced £40 million in funding for businesses and employees in Scotland affected by the temporary coronavirus (COVID-19) brake restrictions that came into effect from 9 October 2020.

North Ayrshire Council has already distributed over £20 million to local businesses on behalf of the UK and Scottish Governments and will again administer the Coronavirus Restrictions Fund which will provide one-off grants to hospitality and hospitality supply chain businesses impacted by the brake restrictions regulations.

There are two separate elements of the Fund.

Business Closure Fund

The Business Closure Fund will operate as a two-tiered scheme, with a smaller grant of £2,875 for businesses with a Rateable Value (RV) of under £51,000 and a larger grant of £4,310 for businesses with a RV over £51,000, up to a maximum of £15,000 in total for any eligible business operating multiple premises.

Business Hardship Fund

The second element is the Business Hardship Fund, with payments of £1440 or £2155, depending on Rateable Value, up to a total of £10,000 for eligible business operating multiple premises. This fund will support some companies that can remain open but are directly impacted by the restrictions, including those that supply businesses that must close.

Eligibility

For the Business Closure Fund, you must be a hospitality or other business required by law to close under these new restrictions.

For the Discretionary Business Hardship Fund, you must be:

  • a hospitality business or gym required by the regulations to operate in a restricted way
  • a producer/wholesale business based in Scotland supplying primarily short-life goods or produce to hospitality businesses affected by the regulations. You must be able to show your turnover has dropped by at least 25% during the brake period

To be eligible for either fund, your business must:

  • have been open and trading before 9 October 2020
  • have a business bank account. This is the account your grant will be paid into if your application is successful
  • have premises registered for Non-Domestic rates. Businesses that pay rates through their landlords rather than directly to a council are eligible to apply (you must provide a copy of your lease agreement as evidence)

Download a Business Closure application (Word, 55kb).

Download a Discretionary Business Hardship Fund application (Word, 57kb).

Find out more at Find Business Support