£104.3 million support package for tourism and hospitality businesses

A part of the £185 million package previously announced by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, tourism and hospitality businesses across Scotland are to benefit from a £104.3 million package of support in the New Year.

With mainland Scotland moving to level 4 and the Scottish islands moving to level 3 from Boxing Day, businesses that are required to close by law will be able to claim up to £3,000 every four weeks through the Strategic Framework Business Fund (SFBF). Applications to the SFBF should be made through your local authority website with the grants paid every four weeks in arrears.

The tourism and hospitality businesses that are set to benefit from the funding package announced include:

• £19.2 million to provide one-off grants for hospitality businesses
• £50.8 million for businesses with a rateable value (RV) of more than £51,000 that have not received support from the Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund or Hotel Support Programme and some additional support to smaller businesses impacted by restrictions
• £11.8 million for international inbound, coach tourism and domestic tour operators
• £7 million for self-catering
• £5 million for visitor attractions
• £2.5 million for outdoor tourism
• £2.3 million for hostels
• £2 million for ski centres
• £1.5 million for travelling show people ineligible for other support
• £1.2 million for Destination Management Organisations
• £1 million for B&Bs and guest houses excluded from the latest Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) scheme

Further details of all the above funding opportunities, including application dates, are to be announced in due course and we will keep you updated when it becomes available.

If you have any queries regarding the above, or would like to discuss your circumstances, please get in touch with one of our team by calling one of our offices or emailing leisure@eqaccountants.co.uk.