Coronavirus advice for businesses in Scotland
Your top questions answered
The Bed and Breakfast Hardship Fund is now open for applications (15 June 2020)
Applications for the following two funds have now closed:
- Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund
- Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund
Read further information about the status of your application
These grants are part of the £100 million fund announced by the Scottish Government to support the self-employed and SMEs. (30 April 2020)
Apply for a coronavirus Bounce Back Loan. Small and medium-sized businesses affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) can apply for a loan of up to £50,000 which will be guaranteed by the UK Government (4 May 2020)
Find UK-wide coronavirus financial support for your business. This new service launched by the UK Government covers most, but not all, business support available to businesses in Scotland. Keep looking here for the latest UK and Scottish Government updates (27 April 2020)
The UK Job Retention Scheme (furlough) that pays 80% of wages of workers on leave because of coronavirus has been extended by a further four months to October. The UK Government will ask companies to "start sharing" the cost of the scheme from August. (12 May 2020)
Important changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention (furlough) Scheme from 1 July.
The final date you could furlough an employee for the first time was Wednesday 10 June.
- Check if you can claim for your employees' wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (12 June 2020)
- How to make a claim (12 June 2020)
- Read this step-by-step guide for employers (11 May 2020)
- Find out how to calculate 80% of your employee’s wages, National Insurance contributions (NICs) and pension contributions if you've furloughed staff. (5 June 2020)
Small businesses can now apply for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). They have changed eligibility criteria to make it easier for businesses to access funds. (6 April 2020)
Find advice about Local Authority grants to help with the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on your business.
Need help getting back to work safely?
Read Phase 1: Physical distancing guidance for businesses in Scotland to help provide clarity on protecting your employees in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19). (29 May 2020)
Explore this free service for employers looking to fill jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic launched by Skills Development Scotland. This is a free platform to share immediate job opportunities in Scotland.
Find advice on business continuity planning from Business Gateway to help you minimise potential impact.
Get support with planning innovative way of working from Scottish Enterprise to help your employees return to work safely and learn how to adapt to the changing business landscape.
Watch a free online tutorial on business contingency planning
Read this action list for businesses to consider during the current pandemic.
Find advice on business continuity management from the UK Government including a toolkit to help you identify all the issues you need to consider.
Find ways your business can help tackle the coronavirus emergency - for example, by manufacturing essential supplies, developing technological solutions and more.
Read Phase 1: Physical distancing guidance for businesses in Scotland to help provide clarity on protecting your employees in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19). (29 May 2020)
Get guidance on returning to work safely during Phase 1 of the Scottish Government's coronavirus (COVID-19) route map (29 May 2020)
Test and Protect - Scottish Government advice for employers (26 May 2020)
Important changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention (furlough) Scheme from 1 July: the final date you can furlough an employee for the first time will be Wednesday 10 June. (29 May 2020)
Usual sick leave and pay entitlements apply if you or an employee has coronavirus.
You can claim back sick pay through the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (28 May 2020)
By law, anyone classed as an employee has the right to take time off work to help someone who depends on them (a 'dependant') in an unexpected event.
Get free, impartial advice from ACAS on workplace rights, rules and best practice.
Flexible working is more important than ever as work practices change to tackle coronavirus - get support and advice at Flexibility Works (17 April 2020)
Find redundancy support from Skills Development Scotland. Free support for businesses of any size, no matter how many employees are involved.
Scotland’s enterprise and skills agencies are working in partnership to help you find the support you need if your business has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Find guidance, advice and tools for all sectors across Scotland.
Latest updates
- Changes in Phase 2 of Scotland's Route Map for easing lockdown measures will be introduced in stages, rather than all at once - read the latest guidance (18 June 2020)
- The Bed and Breakfast Hardship Fund is now open for applications for those who operate using a personal account (15 June 2020)
- Check which expenses are taxable if your employee works from home due to coronavirus (COVID-19) (12 June 2020)
- How to treat certain expenses and benefits provided to employees during coronavirus (COVID-19) (12 June 2020)
- If you’re in the UK and your leave expires between 24 January 2020 and 31 July 2020, your visa will be extended to 31 July 2020 if you cannot leave the UK because of travel restrictions or self-isolation related to coronavirus (12 June)
- Guidance for travellers arriving in Scotland from overseas has been published by the Scottish government (8 June 2020)
- Latest Scottish Government and industry guidance for sectors getting back to work safely:
- Construction (12 June 2020)
- Farmers, landowners and rural (11 June 2020)
- Food and drink (29 May 2020)
- Forestry (29 May 2020)
- Life sciences
- Manufacturing (19 June 2020)
- Retail and how the retail experience is changing (19 June 2020)
- Tourism and hospitality (18 June 2020)
- Transport transition plan, guidance for operators, guidance for passengers on how to travel safely and transport trend data (4 June 2020)
- More on industry support
Search advice by topic
Sources of finance
Information for businesses, the third sector and the self-employed.
Business rates and tax
Support and advice on business tax, rates and accounts.
Support by industry sector
All sectors in Scotland are experiencing the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, some more than others.
Business continuity
Find important checklists explaining the steps you should be taking to prepare for potential disruption.
Business insurance
Information about the impact of the coronavirus on business insurance.
How you can help
Find out how you and your business can support the coronavirus effort.
Protecting your workforce
Guidance on employment, key workers, furloughed workers, including sick leave and pay entitlements.
Personal and public health
Help and advice for individuals, care workers, employers and businesses.
Travel disruptions
Guidance for British travelling and living overseas on how to stay safe and healthy.
Government action
Government plans to tackle the outbreak and measures in place to support businesses.
Webinars
Webinars and tutorials about the impact of the coronavirus and general business development advice.
Learning online
A list of online learning events including how to build your business online.
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