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)
- Childcare providers can apply for funding to meet the extra costs of complying with public health guidance (4 September 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 has now closed (1 September 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) will pay 70% of wages of workers on leave. This scheme will close on 31 October (1 September 2020)
- Employers can also claim the Job Retention Bonus, a one-off payment of £1,000 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 (31 August 2020)
- Employers need to be aware of the guidance for employees who are shielding so they can return to work safely (21 August 2020)
- Test and Protect - Scottish Government advice for employers (30 July 2020)
- Read the Scottish Government's Phase 3 route map update (20 August 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 (21 August 2020)
- This guidance now includes statutory guidance for the hospitality sector (pubs, restaurants and cafés)
- Retail (25 August 2020)
- how the retail experience is changing (14 August 2020)
- Sport and leisure facilities (21 August 2020)
- General guidance for safer workplaces (17 August 2020)
- Events sector guidance (23 August 2020)
- Food and drink (28 August 2020)
- Close contact services
- includes hairdressers, tattoo artists, spas etc (25 August 2020)
- Creative industries - creative studios and shared workspaces (30 July 2020)
Other sectors
- Call centres and customer contact centre environments (3 August 2020)
- Caravan sites and holiday parks (22 July 2020)
- Childminder services and settings (30 July 2020)
- Cinemas and drive-in cinemas (17 August 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 (24 July 2020)
- Film and high-end TV production (17 August 2020)
- Financial services (7 August 2020)
- Forestry (16 June 2020)
- Funeral Directors - updated to reflect changes in guidance on the use of face coverings (12 August 2020)
- Horticulture, fruit and vegetables (2 July 2020)
- Housing including moving home (7 August 2020)
- Laboratories and research facilities (20 August 2020)
- Life sciences
- Manufacturing (updated 20 August 2020)
- Museums, galleries and heritage attractions (30 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 (28 August 2020)
- Private landlords and lettings agents (3 September 2020)
- Professional sport - football and rugby (27 July 2020)
- Public libraries (24 August 2020)
- Transport operators (28 August 2020)
- Technology - the development of software or hardware, cyber, data, infrastructure, and software engineering (21 August 2020)
- 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
- Childcare providers can apply for funding to meet the extra costs of complying with public health guidance (4 September 2020)
- Read coronavirus guidance for private landlords and letting agents from the Scottish Government (3 September 2020)
- Find out which jobs qualify for travel exemptions during the coronavirus pandemic (4 September 2020)
- Read more about the Youth Guarantee that will ensure everyone aged between 16 and 24 in Scotland has the opportunity of work, education or training (2 September 2020)
- The new Kickstart Scheme will provide funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds (2 September 2020)
- You will need to self isolate if arriving from the Czech Republic, Greece and Jamaica (2 September 2020)
- Furlough rules have changed - the government will now pay 70% of wages up to a maximum cap of £2,187.50 (1 September 2020)
- Download the checklist for beauticians, salons and close contact services (PDF, 327 KB)
- View our timeline for Scotland's coronavirus route map
Get ready to restart with our timeline
Our indicative timeline shows all the key dates and events on Scotland's route out of lockdown.
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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.
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