January grants of up to £25,000 announced for Scottish hospitality

January top-up grants of up to £25,000 will be available to hospitality businesses across Scotland closed by level 4 restrictions, finance secretary Kate Forbes has announced.

In addition to the grants businesses receive through the Strategic Business Framework Fund, eligible businesses will also get a one-off grant of £25,000 for larger hospitality businesses (with a rateable value of £51,001 or more) on top of the four-weekly £3,000, while those with a rateable value of £51,000 or less will get £6,000 on top of the four-weekly £2,000.

In most cases, eligible businesses that have already applied for the four-weekly payment from the Strategic Framework Business Fund will get an automatic top-up.

For the majority, this top-up will be combined with the next tranche of payment for the Strategic Framework Business Fund due to go to businesses on 25 January.

Businesses that haven't yet applied for either of these funds should submit an application as soon as possible through their local authority website. Applications are now open.

Forbes said: "As promised, this additional support for hospitality, retail and leisure businesses will be available this month, in some cases doubling or tripling the amount of support we are providing. Applications are open now and payment will be made this month.

"Crucially this essential funding will also help to close the gaps in UK wide support for these impacted sectors and our one-off support for larger hospitality premises of £25,000 is considerably more generous than the £9,000 grant on offer in England.

"I'd encourage all eligible businesses to apply through their local authority if they have not done so already. Of course we are acutely aware that this support can never compensate for the full impact on business, but we must work within the resources that are available to us, and we continue to respond to the evolving economic challenges arising from the pandemic."

Photo: Flickr - Scottish Government