Coronavirus advice for businesses in Scotland
Your top questions answered
Need help getting back to work safely?
- Updates to Scotland's Phase 3 Route Map with further changes and anticipated dates for re-opening (30 July 2020)
- Read the Scottish Government Phase 3 business and physical distancing guidance (24 July 2020)
- Guidance on opening of public and customer toilets (27 June 2020)
- Key dates and guidance in Scotland's Route Map to re-opening and scaling up over Phase 3 (9 July 2020)
- Read this action list for businesses to consider during the current pandemic.
- Guidance to help micro (less than 10 employees) and small (less than 50 employees) companies safely re-open (13 July 2020)
- Read advice and guidance from Public Health Scotland on planning a return to work (26 June)
- 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.
- Guidance on collection of customer and visitor contact details as part of NHS Scotland's Test and Protect system (14 July 2020)
We Are Scotland campaign stakeholder toolkit for businesses/services to reopen safely - includes FACTS guidance, posters, media assets, face covering Q&A (22 July 2020)
- The Hotel Support Programme, which offers bespoke business support for larger hotels in Scotland, is now open for expressions of interest (26 August 2020)
- Find UK-wide coronavirus financial support for your business. This service from the UK Government covers most, but not all, business support available to businesses in Scotland. (27 April 2020)
- Small businesses can 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)
- 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)
- The UK Government's Eat Out to Help Out Scheme. Get information on the scheme, including eligibility, how to register and how to offer the discount (30 July 2020)
- How to pay all or some of your grant back if you’ve overclaimed through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (1 July 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)
- Employers can also claim the Job Retention Bonus, a one-off payment of £1000 for each employee who they previously claimed for under the furlough scheme, and who remains continuously employed through to 31 January 2021. (31 July 2020)
- The Renfrewshire Coronavirus Business Support Fund is a £1.3 million Renfrewshire Council package of interest free loans and grants providing immediate help to local businesses affected by the pandemic (17 August 2020)
- Guidance for workers and employers on returning to work safely (4 August 2020)
- Employers need to be aware of the guidance for employees who are shielding so they can return to work safely (27 July 2020)
- Test and Protect - Scottish Government advice for employers (26 May 2020)
- Read the Scottish Government's Phase 3 route map update (9 July 2020) and additional changes (30 July 2020)
- Find redundancy support from Skills Development Scotland. Free support for businesses of any size, no matter how many employees are involved.
- Scottish Mediation offers a Covid-19 mediation service to resolve conflicts with employees. The service is free for organisations with up to 5 employees (9 July)
Usual sick leave and pay entitlements apply if you or an employee has coronavirus.
Latest Scottish Government and industry guidance for sectors getting back to work safely.
Most popular
- Tourism and hospitality (14 August 2020)
- This guidance was updated on 14 August and now includes statutory guidance for the hospitality sector (pubs, restaurants and cafés)
- Retail (8 August 2020)
- how the retail experience is changing (10 July 2020)
- Transport operators (4 June 2020)
- Food and drink (4 August 2020)
- Close contact services
- includes hairdressers, tattoo artists, spas etc (28 July 2020)
- Creative industries - creative studios and shared workspaces (30 June 2020)
- Events management (30 July 2020)
Other sectors
- Call centres and customer contact centre environments (3 August 2020)
- Caravan sites and holiday parks (3 July 2020)
- Childminder services and settings (30 July 2020)
- Cinemas and drive-in cinemas (14 July 2020)
- Construction - updated to allow Phase 4 of the restart plan to begin (15 July 2020)
- Driving and motorcycle lessons (24 August 2020)
- Farmers, landowners and rural (11 June 2020)
- Film and high-end TV production (14 July 2020)
- Financial services (7 August 2020)
- Forestry (29 May 2020)
- Funeral Directors - updated to reflect changes in guidance on the use of face coverings (12 August 2020)
- General guidance for safer workplaces (17 August 2020)
- Horticulture, fruit and vegetables (30 June 2020)
- Housing including moving home (7 August 2020)
- Laboratories and research facilities (27 July 2020)
- Life sciences
- Manufacturing (updated 20 August 2020)
- Museums, galleries and heritage attractions (6 July 2020)
- Performing arts and venues (21 August 2020)
- Public spaces - urban centres and green spaces, including shopping areas, transport hubs, parks, cemeteries and burial grounds (29 June 2020)
- Places of worship (14 July 2020)
- Private landlords and lettings agents (10 July 2020)
- Professional sport - football and rugby (10 July 2020)
- Public libraries (14 July 2020)
- Sport and leisure facilities (17 August 2020)
- Technology - such as the development of software or hardware, cyber, data, infrastructure, and software engineering.
- Telecommunications operators (30 July 2020)
- Waste management (13 July 2020)
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
- The Hotel Support Programme, which offers bespoke business support for larger hotels in Scotland, is now open for expressions of interest (26 August 2020)
- Find out about the £15 million Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund which will provide critical support to a range of businesses such as art galleries, studio facilities, comedy venues, large music venues, commercial theatres, orchestras, dance companies and nightclubs. (28 August 2020)
- Download the checklist for beauticians, salons and close contact services (PDF, 327 KB)
- You will need to self isolate if arriving from the Czech Republic and Jamaica (27 August 2020)
- View our timeline for Scotland's coronavirus route map
- Guidance for driving instructors and motorcycle trainers about the restart of driver and rider training and tests (24 August 2020)
Get ready to restart with our timeline
Our indicative timeline shows all the key dates and events on Scotland's route out of lockdown.
Browse advice by topic
Sources of finance
Information for businesses, the third sector and the self-employed.
Support by industry sector
All sectors in Scotland are experiencing the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, some more than others.
Protecting your workforce
Guidance on employment, key workers, furloughed workers, including sick leave and pay entitlements.
Business rates and tax
Support and advice on business tax, rates and accounts.
Business continuity
Find important checklists explaining the steps you should be taking to prepare for potential disruption.
Webinars and online learning
Webinars, tutorials and online learning events about the impact of the coronavirus and general business development advice.
Sign up for email updates
Join our mailing list for updates on coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance and advice for businesses in Scotland.