Top-up payment deadline for Moray businesses affected by lockdown
Eligible Moray businesses have until 5 February 2021 to apply for a top-up grant from the Strategic Framework Business Fund (SFBF).
This financial support from the Scottish Government offers a one-off additional grant for eligible businesses that closed when the country entered level four of the covid-19 protection measures from 26 December 2020.
Head of Economic Growth and Development at Moray Council, Jim Grant, is encouraging Moray businesses to check their eligibility for the fund before the deadline.
“We’re aware there are still a number eligible businesses in Moray that have not yet applied for the fund and we’re keen to maximise the funding distributed locally. Businesses can check their eligibility and submit their application online.
“While we’re currently experiencing high levels of applications, and would ask for patience as we respond to these, we’ve recruited additional staff and will get applications and payments out to successful applicants as quickly as possible. Businesses can help the process by ensuring their form is fully completed and all the required documents are provided at the time of submitting the application.”
Existing SFBF applicants do not need to reapply for the top-up payment.
The application deadline for new applicants to the SFBF is 5 February 2021.
Completed application forms can only be accepted online or via email. The completed application form with supporting documents should be sent to sfbfund@moray.gov.uk.
For hospitality businesses the fund provides:
- A one-off grant of £25,000 for all hospitality businesses with a rateable value of £51,001 or more;
- A one-off grant of £6,000 for hospitality and hotel businesses with a rateable value of up to and including £51,000.
Restaurants, bars, pubs, licensed social and sports clubs, cafes and hotels are in scope for the hospitality top up payment.
This payment will be made per eligible premises, with no limit on the number of premises that a business has.
Other accommodation providers (self-catering, B&B’s, guesthouses, campsite, caravan parks, and visitor’s hostels) are not eligible. Self-catering and B&B’s will benefit from their own bespoke funds, as part of the overall additional package announced by the Scottish Government pre-Christmas.
For retail & leisure businesses (which include indoor gyms and equivalents) this provides:
- A one-off grant of £9,000 for all relevant businesses with a rateable value of £51,001 or more;
- A one-off grant of £6,000 for relevant businesses with a rateable value of up to and including £51,000.
This payment will be made per eligible premises, with no limit on the number of premises that a business has.