More than £5million worth of lockdown support has been handed to hard-hit East Renfrewshire traders in the last four months under a government scheme.

The bailout includes £3m to compensate local businesses for having to completely close their doors during the Covid pandemic.

A further £2m has been given as top-up payments to 325 East Renfrewshire firms in the hospitality and leisure sector, while around 250 taxi drivers have received an extra £423,000 in support.

Six unnamed local firms have also been awarded £12,000 in emergency assistance, in addition to other payments.

The Strategic Framework Business Fund, launched in November, provides grants of up to £3,000 every four weeks for firms and traders.

East Renfrewshire Council distributes the government grants after it checks the eligibility of applicants.

In total, more than £533m in grants has been given to business across Scotland since November.

John Hamilton, president of East Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, said that, while the cash is welcome, it does not compensate for loss of trade.

He told the Barrhead News: “We would like to have seen more funding but we accept that councils have tried to do as much as they can to help local businesses.

“The criteria laid down by the Scottish Government for grants is quite strict, so not every business has received the support it needed. That is where some small businesses have been particularly affected.

“We’ve had weekly meetings with members to give them as much information about the government scheme as possible.

“However, we would all rather be operating our businesses as normal.”
The Scottish Government said almost 90% of cash support has gone to small and medium-sized businesses.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes added: “Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve done everything in our power to protect people’s livelihoods, with business support accounting for over a third of total Covid-19 spend.”

“We want as many businesses as possible to benefit from the funding we have made available and I have confirmed that the Strategic Framework Business Fund will continue to support eligible companies into the next financial year.

“The recent Scottish budget also provided certainty and stability to businesses by extending 100% non-domestic rates relief for retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation businesses for the whole of next financial year.”

All businesses that are required by law to close or to directly and significantly change their operations due to Covid-19 restrictions are eligible to apply for funding.

The grants do not include money given to firms as furlough payments.

For more details, visit www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-strategic-framework-business-fund.