Applications invited for business support grants

Three grants from Orkney Islands Council to help local businesses affected by the Covid-19 crisis are now open for applications.

The first of these is a Business Support Top-up grant – a one-off additional payment worth 10% of the funding businesses have been granted through a range of Scottish Government schemes.

Local businesses have already received this top-up if they have had support from Government schemes administered by the Council or grant funding from OIC’s own Business Hardship Support initiative.

The 10% top-up is now available to Orkney businesses that have secured funding through a number of other schemes administered by the Government itself, or by other agencies.

Businesses can check if they are eligible for the top-up, make an online application and provide the Council with the information it requires by using the link to the OIC website below.

For those that have not benefited from other schemes, applications can also be made for a Covid-19 Protective Equipment Grant from OIC.

This is a one-off grant of up to £500 for local businesses that serve the public, for the purchase of safety screens or other personal safety equipment. It is available for businesses that haven’t qualified for the 10% top-up grant.

In addition, a new Covid-19 Recovery Development Grant is now open for applications.

This is a 50% grant of up to £10,000 to help local businesses invest in new measures to address the existing and ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic – developments, for example, which increase efficiency, enhance access to new markets and improve competitiveness, leading to future and sustainable business growth.

Businesses can find more information, check if they are eligible for the grants and make online applications on the OIC website. Visit this page and click on ‘Support’ to find links for each of the grants.

Graham Sinclair, chair of OIC’s Development and Infrastructure Committee, said: “The funding the Council has put in place over recent months follows detailed and ongoing discussion with our business community and reflects the feedback we’ve received on how we can help address the many challenges they face.

“I hope this additional support will be welcomed by local businesses and I would encourage them to check out the information we’re providing online for each of these schemes.”

The Council is also reminding local businesses that its Business Hardship Support Grant scheme remains open for applications.

Applications can be made by businesses that were ineligible for funding from Scottish Government support schemes for grants of up to:

• £5,000 per applicant for businesses employing one to five full time equivalent employees.
• £10,000 per applicant for businesses employing six to 10 full time equivalent employees.
• £15,000 per applicant for businesses employing 11 or more full time equivalent employees.

More information here.