VISITSCOTLAND has today announced the details of a £6 million fund to help the events sector recover from the Covid-19 pandemic while restrictions on the sector are still in place.
The Events Industry Support Fund will comprise of a one-off grant of £10,000 to support businesses in the events industry, particularly those in the supply chain, that are facing hardship and will be awarded as applications are received.
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The fund is being delivered on behalf of the Scottish Government by VisitScotland and its EventScotland team, with development input from the newly formed Event Industry Advisory Group (EIAG).
It will support businesses that have not received Scottish Government sponsored COVID related funding from other schemes and which meet the eligibility criteria.
Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for economy, fair work, and culture said: “We know the events sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and whilst we have set out indicative dates for a staged return of the industry, difficulties will continue for a long time to come.
“This funding is the result of close collaboration with the sector to work out exactly what challenges they face and tailor our support to help them as best we can.
“Scotland has a track record of successfully planning and delivering events at international, national, and local level and we will continue to work with the sector as we emerge from lockdown to ensure we remain the perfect stage.”
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s director of events said: “The events industry has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic as one of the first industries to stop and it will be one of the last to restart.
“There is a desperate need for support and this £6 million Scottish Government fund will help a number of businesses in the short term until we can start to run events again.
“This fund is designed to give a much-needed cash flow support to those companies who have faced real hardship during lockdown.
“It is on a first-come, first served approach, with only the first 600 applications being awarded funding, so I would urge those in the events supply chain to get their applications in as soon as possible.”
Applications for the fund will open from noon on August 31 until September 14.
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