£1 million support fund opens to businesses hit by local restrictions in Aberdeen

HOSPITALITY businesses across Aberdeen who have been hit by the lockdown restrictions can now apply for support from the £1 million fund.

Aberdeen City Council is administering the funding, provided by the Scottish Government, which will provide grants of £1,000 and £1,500 to those most affected.

A portion of £900,000 of the fund will be allocated to these grants, with the remaining £100,000 being a discretionary fund for sectors not required to close by the regulations.

The fund will operate as a two-tiered scheme, with a smaller grant of £1,000 for businesses with a Rateable Value (RV) of under £51,000 and a larger grant of £1,500 for those businesses with a RV over £51,000.

Jenny Laing, Aberdeen City Council co-leader councillor, said: “Local businesses particularly in the hospitality industry here in Aberdeen are facing challenges never before seen and I commend them for their continued resilience.

“While the individual grants are not for a huge amount of money every penny counts in these unprecedented times.”

Businesses or premises which have been forced to close as a direct result of COVID regulations (lockdown restrictions) on August 5 are eligible to apply.