Coronavirus advice for businesses in Scotland

The Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund: 

• This fund has now closed
• Read more about the current status of your application
• We’re doing everything we possibly can to process applications within 10 working days. If you haven’t heard from us please do not worry, we will have a note of your application and will be in touch soon 

The Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises Fund:

• This fund has now closed
• Read more about the current status of your application
• We’re doing everything we possibly can to process applications within 10 working days. If you haven’t heard from us please do not worry, we will have a note of your application and will be in touch soon

The Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund:

• apply for funds 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)

• Check if you can claim for your employees' wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (14 May 2020)
• How to make a claim (14 May 2020) 
• Read this step-by-step guide for employers (11 May 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

Help tackle the coronavirus emergency by manufacturing essential supplies, developing technological solutions and more. 

Find guidance for the construction industry from the Scottish Government. Work on construction projects should stop unless it's supporting crucial work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (1 May 2020)

Read updated social distancing guidance for businesses in Scotland to help provide clarity on protecting your employees in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19). (21 April 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.

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.

More on business continuity

Test and Protect - Scottish Government advice for employers (26 May 2020)

You can claim back sick pay through the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (26 May 2020)

How to claim for wages for employees on temporary leave ('furlough') due to coronavirus (14 May 2020)

Find redundancy support from Skills Development Scotland. Free support for businesses of any size, no matter how many employees are involved. 

Get free, impartial advice from Acas on workplace rights, rules and best practice.

Usual sick leave and pay entitlements apply if you or an employee has coronavirus.

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.

Flexible working is more important than ever as work practices change to tackle coronavirus - Get support and advice at Flexibility Works (17 April 2020)

Read updated social distancing guidance for businesses in Scotland to help provide clarity on protecting your employees in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19). (21 April 2020)

More advice for employers