£10,000 & £25,000 grants for small businesses

The Scottish Government has introduced the Business Support Fund, which offers some businesses a:

Retail, Hospitality, Leisure Support Grant
Small Business Support Grant

*Update 8th June 2020 – shared office space, business incubator or industrial unit can now apply.

£10,000 grant, what is it?

This is called the Small Business Grant Scheme and it is provided directly from local authorities in Scotland. It will give grants to small businesses that get small business rate relief (SBBR) and/or rural rate relief (RRR).

The Scheme will give one-off grants of £10,000 to eligible businesses.

Is your business eligible?

You’re eligible for a grant under the Small Business Grant Scheme if you match all these criteria:

Your business:

is based in Scotland, and
occupies a property, and
already receives small business rate relief (SBRR) and/or rural rates relief

*update- You can also get this grant if you get:

If your business is already in receipt of either small business rates relief or rural rates relief then you do not have to do anything. Your council will write to you and let you know what to do. If, for any reason they have not contact you or you wish to see if your business can be included you should contact your local council directly.

How and when do you get the money?

Eligible businesses will get the full £10,000 which does not need to be paid back.

These grants started in April 2020 and you can apply directly to your local council.

£10,000 or £25,000 grant for retail, hospitality and leisure

This scheme is called the Retail and Hospitality Grant Scheme. It will offer a cash grants of either £10,000 or £25,000 per property to businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

Businesses with a rateable value of under £15,000 will get £10,000

Businesses with a rateable value of between £15,001 and £51,000 will get £25,000

Is your business eligible?

You’re eligible for this grant if your business:

is based in Scotland, and
operates in the retail, hospitality and/or leisure sector

The Government stated that this Scheme is for businesses mainly used:

as shops, restaurants, cafés, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues
as hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation
or for assembly and leisure

Not sure if your business comes under one of these categories? There’s a full list of eligible businesses on the Scottish Government website.

How and when do you get the money?

You do not need to do anything yet. Your local council should contact you directly if your business is eligible.

Eligible businesses will get the full £10,000 or £25,000.

Can you get both grants?

No. The Government has confirmed that if your business property is eligible for the Small Business Grant Scheme, it won’t be eligible for the Retail and Hospitality Grant Scheme. You can only get one grant per property.