COVID-19 Small Business Grant

Before you apply

As part of its response to the COVID-19 emergency, the Scottish Government is making grants available for certain businesses and has asked the Council to administer the Grant Scheme on its behalf within the Highland Council area.

Does my business qualify?

To establish if your business is eligible or not, please refer to the Scottish Government's website pages or the Scottish Assessor.

If you do not qualify please see our further information and support page.

Eligibility for this grant is defined by the Scottish Government. To be eligible your business premises must have been occupied on Tuesday 17 March 2020. Only businesses who are currently on the Non-Domestic Rates register may apply for this grant (i.e. businesses who pay council tax will not qualify).

Businesses operating in a qualifying premises

Small Business Grant Fund – Who’s eligible?

Ratepayers of businesses located in a non-domestic property on 17 March 2020 can apply to access a support fund and receive a small business support grant of £10,000 if they are:

in receipt of the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS);
in receipt of Rural Relief or;
eligible for SBBS but in receipt of Nursery Relief, Disabled Relief, Fresh Start Relief, Business Growth Accelerator Relief, Enterprise Areas Relief, Discretionary Sports Relief or Charitable Rate Relief.

From 5 May 2020, ratepayers with multiple business properties meeting these criteria are eligible to receive a one-off grant of £10,000 for their first property, and £7,500 for each subsequent qualifying property. These are only available to ratepayers whose premises were occupied on 17 March 2020 for the business uses specified.

Also from 8 June 2020, the scheme has been extended to include certain properties who previously were ineligible due to the cumulative rateable value of their premises. They now will be able to receive £10,000 for the first property and £7,500 for each additional eligible property. Ratepayers operating properties in Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure where individual rateable values do not exceed £18,000 and cumulative rateable value is between £35,001 - £500,000, will now be able to apply for the Small Business Grant Fund for each of their Retail, Hospitality or Leisure properties.

Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Grant Fund – Who’s eligible?

Ratepayers of businesses in the Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure sectors operating in premises with a rateable value between £18,001 - £51,000 inclusive can apply for a Grant of £25,000.

From 5 May 2020, ratepayers with multiple business properties which meet these criteria are eligible to receive a one-off grant of £25,000 for their first property and £18,750 for each subsequent qualifying property. These are only available to a ratepayer whose premises were occupied on 17 March 2020 for the business uses specified.

Tenants or Occupiers

If you are a business where you are the tenant or occupier, there is a separate grant process. To apply please follow the guidance on our Tenant/Occupier Small Business Grant page.

Self-catering businesses

There is a separate grant available for self-catering businesses. If you have a self-catering business, to apply please follow the guidance on our Self-Catering Business Grant page.