In a statement to the Scottish Parliament earlier today, the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Fiona Hyslop MSP outlined further measures that the Scottish Government are taking to support more businesses adversely affected by Covid-19.

The further support announced includes:

• Extending the eligibility of the current small business and retail, hospitality and leisure grant to businesses that occupy multiple premises with a cumulative value above 51k;

• And also to businesses occupying premises such as shared office spaces, business incubators and shared industrial units where the landlord is the ratepayer; and

• In addition, for those businesses that were ineligible to apply for Hardship Funds because they did not have a Business Bank Account, the Scottish Government will be exploring ways of how to support those companies.

Further details will be released later this week.

Responding to these measures as outlined by the Cabinet Secretary, Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:

“The Scottish Government has shown it is listening to the needs of businesses. For those businesses that are still small but operate from expensive premises, this is a lifeline.

“Likewise, for those that operate from shared office spaces. While gaps still remain in overall business support provision, this intervention is welcome and the government must now ensure that cash gets to businesses in crisis as soon as possible.

“We look forward to receiving further details later this week.”