Afternoon everyone, 

We have just went through the application process for the £10,000 grant funding, via West Dunbartonshire Council, to ascertain what is involved, this can be accessed by setting up a My Gov Scot Account, through the link below and is fairly straightforward;

https://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/business/grant-and-loan/business-support-fund/

If you fall under Glasgow City Council, please try the link below;

https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/coronavirusbusinessfund

The information you will need at hand is as follows;

Business Rates Relief Reference, this would have been on your last business rates relief application form or determination of eligibility, you usually receive these in April every year, or just before, and as the process has now went online you may have an email receipt with the reference somewhere to fall back on if you don't actually have a note of it on paper.  The Rates departments are not answering calls at the moment, so they will not be able to give you a note of this at the moment, I would imagine until things calm down with the number of people attempting to contact them.

You will also need a bank statement to upload dated within the last 3 months, this cannot be a screenshot.

If you upload all information correctly and accurately, you will receive an automatic payout of £10,000 or £25,000 if you fall into the higher rateable value category for Leisure, Retail or Hospitality within 10 days, directly to your bank account.

Please note - there is a specific note on the application process which makes you aware that this grant will be taxable, so please keep this in mind.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme - (CBILS) NOW LIVE!

There are 40 lenders that have been listed on the British Bank website that have partnered with the CBILS to deliver loans to businesses, the following are banks that we know are currently support some of our clients;

• Bank of Scotland
• Barclays
• Clydesdale
• Santander
• RBS
• TSB
• Lloyds

The advice is to apply via the bank websites, all links provided above. 

#TOGETHERFORBUSINESS - COVID19 Business Forum in Association with We Achieve Associates

I will be taking part in an online forum tonight and would like to invite any of our clients to join for some information, on various topics that will be of use at the moment, we will be discussing business strategies for short and long term success whilst navigating your way through this current situation, addressing the funding issue, and summarising the recent Government guidelines.  The tickets are free and you can book these on Eventbrite, click here to book.  
 

The Panel

Mary Ann Smith, Director WeAchieve Associates (Business Consultancy & Coaching) (Facilitator/Chair)

Damon Scott, Chief Executive, Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce (Host)

Jason George, Head of Business Development, Columbus UK (Managed Communications, technology and remote working solutions)

Emma Armstrong, Managing Director, B-Able Business Services Ltd (Accountant)

Michael Byrne, Let's Talk, Workplace Mental Health Specialist

Angela Strzyzewska from Just Employment Law (Employment Law Specialist)

Graeme Elliot, Director Roxburgh Insurance Group