PվɫÇéƬ

Please note - this fund is now closed

This new fund can support businesses who are still facing challenges in 2021-22 specifically due to the impact of COVID on the business in 2020-21. If your business needs funding to assist with recovery plans due to the impact of Covid last year then you can apply. It can provide grants of £2,000 to £10,000 depending on the number of employees.  Applications opened on 9 September and closed at 5pm on 15 September. Grants will be awarded on a first come first served basis.

Guidance information and how to apply

The Fund opened for applications online at 10am on 9 September 2021 and closed at 5pm on 15 September. 
 

If you still have questions about applying to the fund after you have read this guidance, please email dffb@argyll-bute.gov.uk.  Please do not call or contact other Council teams as they will not have access to the information required to assist you.

Purpose of the grant

The purpose of this grant is to provide hardship support to businesses currently experiencing short-term financial challenges as a direct result of the impact of the COVID pandemic in the last financial year (2020-21). If your business needs funding to assist with recovery plans due to the impact of Covid last year then you can apply.

The Fund is focussed on providing support to businesses who are still facing challenges in 2021-22 specifically due to the impact of COVID on the business in 2020-21.  The Fund cannot be used to replace lost income for a business that still has sufficient cash reserves to meet all its needs, or to support a business that is not viable in the long term.

Businesses are eligible to apply if they have already received other COVID grant support, if financial challenges related to the COVID pandemic remain.

There are 3 levels of grant award:

• £2,000 for businesses with no employees
• £5,000 for businesses with 1- 9 employees
• £10,000 for businesses with 10 or more employees

Eligibility

To be eligible to submit an application, a business must meet the following criteria:

• Trading prior to October 2020 and still trading
• Based in PվɫÇéƬ and Bute and registered for Non Domestic Rates or Council Tax (for mobile and home-based businesses)
• A micro, small or medium sized business (up to 250 employees)
• Either a Limited Company, Partnership, Sole Trader, Trust, Community Interest Company or Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation 
• Negatively impacted by COVID in the financial year 2020-21 and continuing to face short-term financial challenges as a result
• Not have cash reserves available to meet all its needs
• Not in receipt of an enforcement notice as a result of breaching COVID-19 Regulations
• Not connected to a Tax Haven
• Not in receipt of discretionary grant support from any other local authority

Application process

Application is by online application only via the Council website.  Applications opened at 10am on 9 September 2021 and closed at 5pm on 15 September.
 

Applicants will need to upload the following documents with their application:

1. Proof of business type: either: Certificate of Incorporation, Partnership agreement, HMRC Registration showing UTR, Self-assessment documents, valid business insurance policy document, Trust Constitution documents or VAT registration
2. Recent business bank account statement (or personal bank account by exception) in the name of the business (or applicant for personal) and showing income and expenditure related to the business
3. Latest accounts. If your business is not required to produce audited accounts  you can submit a Profit & Loss statement or copy of the SA302 form  from your last tax return
4. A cashflow forecast for the next 12 months

If you do not have a Profit and Loss statement or a cashflow forecast, Business Gateway PվɫÇéƬ and Bute can provide advice and a template for you to use.  You can also download templates below. Contact business.gateway@argyll-bute.gov.uk. If required, you should seek this support in advance of applications opening.

• Cashflow template (Microsoft Excel)
• Profit and loss template (Microsoft Excel)

The application form will ask a series of questions to establish whether the business meets the minimum eligibility criteria and the degree to which the Fund criteria are met.  The questions will include:

• Non Domestic Rates reference number or Council Tax reference for the business
• Turnover for the financial year to March 2020 (ie pre-COVID)
• Turnover for the financial year to March 2021 (estimate if actual is not available)
• How was the business impacted by the COVID pandemic in the financial year 2020-21 and what financial challenges continue because of this? (500 word limit)
• Is the business viable moving forward? Consider whether the business is expected to survive and succeed in future, if support were granted. Are debts and costs manageable and is turnover expected to be restored post COVID?
• Have steps been taken to reduce business outgoings? Consider what has been done to reduce or defer expenditure
• How could support to the business impact other businesses operating in PվɫÇéƬ and Bute? Consider whether competitors could be disadvantaged, or businesses you supply or collaborate with could be positively impacted, if the business is supported
• Will support to the business benefit the economy of PվɫÇéƬ and Bute?  Consider whether support will help protect or create jobs, support supply chains, or provide benefits to the community
• Are the financial challenges facing the business exceptional and COVID related? Consider whether the business would be facing similar financial challenges without the COVID pandemic
• Has other assistance been sought for the business? Consider whether other options such as loans, payment holidays, financial advice, grants, releasing capital have been explored

Please take care to ensure that you answer all the questions and attach ALL the required documents before submitting your application, as grants cannot be allocated whilst missing documents are pending.

If you still have questions about applying to the fund after you have read this guidance, please email dffb@argyll-bute.gov.uk.  Please do not call or contact other Council teams as they will not have access to the information required to assist you.

Assessment of applications

Where applicants meet the minimum eligibility criteria, their response to the questions will be scored and the supporting financial information will be reviewed.  On a first come first served basis, those meeting the required minimum score set for approval will be awarded a grant.

Any grant award is made at the discretion of PվɫÇéƬ.
 

After you have submitted your application

After you have submitted your online application form, you should receive an acknowledgment email confirming your application has been received.  If you do not receive a confirmation email please check your spam/junk folders before contacting us.

Applications will be assessed strictly in the order in which they are received, where all the required information and supporting documents have been provided.

We will contact you if further information is required and this must be submitted within 5 working days or your application will be rejected. 

You may also be asked to provide additional evidence in support of your application.

The Council aims to assess applications within 10 working days of receipt but this may take longer if the volume of applications is large.  Please do not contact us regarding progress with your application unless you have not received a submission confirmation email.

If you do need to contact us because you have not received confirmation of your application being submitted, or you wish to change or withdraw your application, please email dffb@argyll-bute.gov.uk