Are you a West Coaster? Three local businesses have their say.
COVID-19 Bed & Breakfast Grant - now open (15th June 2020)
Issued via the Highland Council: https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/248/grants_-_business/928/covid-19_bed_and_breakfast_grant
The purpose of this fund is to provide hardship relief to Bed & Breakfast and other Small Serviced Accommodation businesses who have not been able to access support through other schemes as a result of banking status. Businesses applying to this Fund will need to operate with a personal bank account demonstrating business revenue and expenditure (rather than a business bank account). If you receive the grant you can continue to work or take on other employment including voluntary work. Follow the link above for all of the eligibility and application details
COVID-19 Newly self-employed hardship fund
https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/248/grants_-_business/923/covid-19_newly_self-employed_hardship_fund
A one-off grant of £2,000 is available for newly self-employed individuals who are ineligible for other Scottish Government or UK Government schemes. Applicants may only make an application for grant support to one local authority, and may not receive more than one payment under the scheme. If you receive the grant you can continue to work or take on other employment including voluntary work
COVID-19 Tenant / Occupier Small Business Grant
https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/248/grants_-_business/926/covid-19_tenantoccupier_small_business_grant
As part of its response to the COVID-19 emergency, the Scottish Government is making grants available from 8 June 2020 to tenants or occupiers of premises such as shared office spaces, business incubators and shared industrial units for which the landlord is the registered rate payer. These businesses may be eligible for a single, one-off £10,000 small business grant and the Scottish Government has asked the Council to administer the grant scheme on its behalf within the Highland Council area.
Self-Employed Income Support Scheme
The scheme currently allows you to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of your average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months’ worth of profits, and capped at £7,500 in total. If you’re eligible and your business has been adversely affected you must make your claim for the first grant on or before 13 July 2020. If you’re eligible for the second and final grant, and your business has been adversely affected on or after 14 July 2020 you’ll be able to make a claim in August 2020. You can claim for the second grant even if you did not make a claim for the first grant.
On Account Tax: Option to delay your July payment on account to January 2021 ; Income tax payments due on the 31 July 2020 will be deferred without penalty or late payment interest until the 31 January 2021. This is applied automatically and businesses do not need to apply.
COVID-19 Self-Catering Business Grant
https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/248/grants_-_business/920/covid-19_self-catering_business_grant
Self-catering businesses operating in an eligible premises that was in receipt of the Small Business Bonus Scheme and Rural Relief as at 17 March 2020, can apply for a one-off grant of £10,000 and for grant support of £7,500 for additional properties which qualify under the Small Business Support Grant..
Self-catering businesses with a rateable value between £18,001 and up to and including £51,000, if operating in that sector as at 17 March 2020, will be able to apply for a one-off grant of £25,000 and for grant support of £18,750 for additional properties which qualify under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund.
The Highland Council - Grants for Small Businesses
As part of its response to the COVID-19 emergency, the Scottish Government is making grants available for certain businesses and has asked the Council to administer the Grant Scheme on its behalf within the Highland Council area. Retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with a rateable value between £18,001 and up to and including £51,000, if operating in that sector as at 17 March 2020, will be able to apply for a one-off grant of £25,000 (click here).
Businesses operating in an eligible premises that was in receipt of the Small Business Bonus Scheme and Rural Relief as at 17 March 2020, can apply for a one-off grant of £10,000 (click here).
If you applied for Nursery Relief or Disabled Relief but are eligible for the Small Business Bonus Scheme you can also get this grant. Businesses that may qualify for both awards may make request for only the £25,000 grant. NOT all types of retail, hospitality and leisure businesses will qualify for these grants.
To download the application form, click here
North Highland community support fund launched
A new support fund has been launched to help local communities in the North Highlands during the coronavirus pandemic. The North Highland Initiative’s Community Support Programme has been set up to provide grants of up to £1,000 for small initiatives in the education, conservation, and community service and support sectors in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross & Cromarty.
Given the current crisis, and for the foreseeable future, applicants for the Community Support Programme must be able to demonstrate that their project has been established as a direct result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. They must show that their project meets a “genuine and urgent community need”, and that the project carries no financial benefits for private individuals within the community. The Community Support Programme will not support applications from statutory organisations, individuals or projects outwith the North Highland region. For more information about the North Highland Initiative’s Community Support Programme, and to apply for funding, please visit http://www.northhighlandinitiative.co.uk/community-support
MOT Information - online guidance here
From 30 March 2020, MOT due dates for cars, motorcycles and light vans will be extended by 6 months. This is being done to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. You do not need to do anything to extend your vehicle’s MOT expiry date if it’s on or after 30 March 2020. Your vehicle will be automatically given a 6-month MOT exemption. This will extend your current MOT expiry date by 6 months. The MOT requirements will revert to normal as from the 1st August 2020
The Government issues new Coronavirus measures
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52012432 The prime minister is announcing strict new curbs on life in the UK to tackle the spread of coronavirus. From this evening people must stay at home except for shopping for basic necessities, daily exercise, any medical need and travelling to and from essential work.
HMRC Support Measures
The Chancellor announced further measures to support people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. The Chancellor’s statement can be found at GOV.UK. Updated guidance for employers, businesses and employees is available at:
We will continue to share the most up to date information directly with you as it becomes available.
Lochcarron Medical Centre
On account of the current Corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic, we have had to change the way we do things at the Practice. To order your prescription please use the prescription line 01520 722661 or post your repeat slip through the letter box. The surgery door is locked. To collect prescriptions, knock on the door and prescriptions will be given to you.
If you are self isolating, please contact a neighbour/friend or family to collect your prescription.
Lochcarron & Surrounds - Community Support Network
We have a great local group, communicating via Facebook to ensure our local communities are supported at this challenging time. Many tasks are underway, including the collection of PPE equipment to support where needed. Shopping, collecting essential items and checking on vulnerable residents.
Lochcarron Food Centre - Spar
We are reducing the number of customers allowed in the shop at any one time to 4. Please distance yourselves in store as per government guidelines of leaving at least 2m apart.
Use our delivery or ‘phone and collect’ systems if you need to. We have had numerous offers of help delivering orders so please don’t feel that you are putting us out, you are greatly helping in the whole running of the shop!
PHONE 01520 722209 // Message through FB // Email sparlochcarron@aol.co.uk
We all need to work together to get through these difficult times.
PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO NHS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES.
Thank you all, take care and stay safe, Em n Hec xxx
Lochcarron Garage
Lochcarron Garage Shop remains open, hours now 0700 to 1800. Delivery and orders by telephone available, please phone 01520 722997 or 01520 722205.
We are still open at Lochcarron Garage for essential repairs only and to make sure people can stay safe on our roads. Key workers will be given Priority.
The Highland Council has launched a free helpline to give assistance and to collect details of individuals and community groups looking to provide volunteering support during Covid19. The number will be live from 2pm, Wednesday 25 March
The single line number – 0300 303 1362 – will connect callers to relevant Council specialist teams and will operate Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. All calls are free. Callers will be able to get advice on benefits and personal support, education and social care and there will also be advice for businesses who may need help with financial support. Helpline staff will also be signposting callers to other organisations that can provide help and assistance as well as gathering offers from individuals or community groups wishing to volunteer.
NEIGHBOURHOOD ALERTS - Mark Armstrong (NHWN, Community Support Officer, NW Scotland)
During these uncertain times accurate information can be difficult to differentiate from the masses of 'fake news' circulating.
Please find attachment from Police Scotland included in this message on the current Shut Out Scammers campaign and below links to sources of trusted accurate information.
Feel free to circulate this information to any local social media group that you may be part of.
https://www.scotland.police.uk/keep-safe/personal-safety/shut-out-scammers
https://www.tsscot.co.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-scams/
https://mailchi.mp/b3d2ca964e92/scam-share-focus-on-coronavirus
We’ll also be updating our Facebook page with local village news as often as we can, please share your news stories to our page!
Information Sources
The last week has seen vast amounts of often misleading and contradictory information sent around Social Media - it's been very difficult to obtain clarity on a number of aspects of all this.
So, we're not going to try and be experts on this. Our advice would be to look at one or more of these resources listed below:
Visit Scotland Advice for Business https://www.visitscotland.org/supporting-your-business/advice/coronavirus/faqs
Highland Council - https://www.highland.gov.uk/coronavirus
Federation of Small Businesses - Note that this source is open to ALL, whether members or non - members - https://www.fsb.org.uk/campaign/covid19.html
Scottish Tourism Alliance - https://scottishtourismalliance.co.uk/
Association of Scotlands Self Caterers - https://www.assc.co.uk/
Deferral of Self Assessment Income Tax payments due in July 2020 and VAT payments due from 20 March 2020 until 30 June 2020
Increased amounts of Universal Credit
Directors of their own company paid through PAYE, may be able to get support using the Job Retention Scheme.
There has been an announcement about assistance for self catering - see more at: https://www.mygov.scot/non-domestic-rates-coronavirus/ The new updated category of eligible businesses states "Caravans and self-catering accommodation that are the primary income for the ratepayer and let out for 140 days or more in 2019-2020". But NOTE: You must apply right away.