I hope you are all still healthy and safe as we approach the end of another week in lockdown!  According to the statistics today, it seems UK deaths are down slightly from yesterday, which may indicate that we are reaching a peak in the pandemic, but they have also said that high death numbers will continue for a period of time, and this will not encourage the relaxing of social distancing measures.  We extend our heart-felt thanks to the NHS and all front line workers, who are risking their lives to care for the sick, and will be forever indebted to them.  

The Scottish Government today also released updated guidance, which is detailed below about some additional support measures put in place for Scottish businesses, this will hopefully catch some of our clients who had previously 'slipped through the net' in regard to funding.

We have put a staggered structure in place for the team over the next few weeks keeping social distancing in place, but trying our best to get back to some sort of normality.  For the time being our opening hours will be reduced, from Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.  As always, we will keep you updated with any change to this.

Take care,

Emma

Business Rates Relief Support

The Scottish Government have confirmed today an update to this funding scheme, whereby any businesses who own a second property will now be eligible to apply for additional grants to the value of 75% of the first funding award.

Corona Virus Job Retention Scheme

The Government have changed the deadline to the 19th March for the Job Retention Scheme.  This means that so long as you were employed/employed someone, before the 19th March, you will be eligible to access the furloughed scheme.  If you have had your employment terminated, or terminated an employee based on the fact this legislation previously only covered employees in employment before the 28th February, then you are able to re-employ/be re-employed and still access the scheme.

The scheme will only cover the period 1st March to 31st May currently.

£100 Million Fund for Self Employed

A fund of £100 million has been promised to Scottish Local Authorities, to be distributed between self employed individuals and small businesses in distress in the current time.  It is not clear how exactly this will take shape, but it might take the form of a hardship fund, to ensure the assistance gets to the people who are most in need.  An application process to access this will be released by the end of the month, as soon as we know what the criteria and process is we will get this information out.  It has been said that this will cover newly employed individuals, who previously did not have access to the Self Employed Support Scheme.

OFFICE OPEN FOR PAPERWORK DROPS - MON TO FRI 10AM-4PM, THERE IS A DROPBOX AT RECEPTION, BUZZED IN AT FRONT ENTRANCE TO DROP AND GO - COMPLETELY CONTACTLESS!