Coronavirus advice for businesses in Scotland

Need help getting back to work safely?

Read the Scottish Government's phase 2 business and physical distancing guidance (29 June)

Read advice and guidance from Public Health Scotland on planning a return to work (26 June)

Guidance on opening of public and customer toilets (27 June 2020)

Key dates and guidance in Scotland's Route Map to help your business prepare for easing of restrictions through Phase 2 into Phase 3 (24 June 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. 

More on business continuity

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

Apply for a grant through the Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund if you became self-employed on or after 6 April 2019 

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)  

How to pay all or some of your grant back if you’ve overclaimed through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (26 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.  

More sources of funding

Phase 2 guidance for businesses in Scotland on physical distancing and closures due to the COVID-19 outbreak (29 June 2020)

Key dates and guidance in Scotland's Route Map to help your business prepare for easing of restrictions through Phase 2 into Phase 3 (24 June 2020)

Guidance for workers and employers on returning to work safely (24 June)

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 could furlough an employee for the first time was Wednesday 10 June. (12 June 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. 

More advice for employers

Latest Scottish Government and industry guidance for sectors getting back to work safely:

• Construction (12 June 2020)
• Creative industries - creative studios and shared workspaces (30 June 2020)
• Farmers, landowners and rural (11 June 2020)
• Food and drink (29 May 2020)
• Forestry (29 May 2020)
• Horticulture, fruit and vegetables (30 June 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