Coronavirus support and advice for businesses in Scotland

The Scottish Brewers Support Fund 2022 will provide financial support to breweries impacted by the restrictions and guidance introduced to control the Omicron variant from 9 December 2021 to 24 January 2022. Eligible breweries do not need to apply but will be contacted directly by their local authority to confirm eligibility.

View guidance and eligibility for breweries on the Scottish Government website.

The Close Contact Services Fund will provide a one-off payment to support eligible close contact service businesses impacted by the COVID restrictions and guidance introduced from 9 December 2021 to 24 January 2022 to control the Omicron variant. The fund opened for applications on Monday 14 February 2022 and will close on Friday 4 March 2022.

View guidance and eligibility for close contact services on the Scottish Government website.

The Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers is now open for applications. This will support creative freelancers working in the arts, screen and creative sectors in Scotland who are experiencing immediate financial hardship due to loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

View guidance and eligibility for freelancers on the Creative Scotland website.

Cultural organisations which have been financially impacted by the cancellation or postponement of cultural activity due to take place from 27 November 2021 to 31 March 2022 can apply for the COVID-19 Cancellation Fund for Cultural Organisations. 

This fund closed at 2pm on 2 February 2022.

View guidance and eligibility for cultural organisations on the Creative Scotland website.

Events businesses which have been affected by the new COVID restrictions in December 2021 and January 2022 and have previously received funding through either of the Event Industry Support Funds or the Pivotal Event Businesses Fund will be eligible for a top-up payment. Eligible businesses will be contacted directly from 28 January.

Read more about eligibility and criteria on the VisitScotland website.

The Scottish Food and Drink Producers Fund will provide support for food and drink producers who supply the hospitality sector. The fund will help businesses which suffered financial losses due to cancelled orders caused by the introduction of the new COVID-19 measures imposed on the industry.

This fund closed at 11:59pm on 13 February 2022.

View guidance and eligibility for food and drink producers on the Scottish Government website.

A further round of the Scottish Wholesale Food and Drink Resilience Fund is now live to support food and drink wholesalers who have been negatively affected by the public health restrictions imposed on the hospitality and on-trade sectors to control COVID-19.

This fund closed at 11:59pm on 13 February 2022.

View guidance and eligibility for food and drink wholesalers on the Scottish Government website.

This fund closed to applications on 31 January 2022. Hospitality businesses which have lost bookings during the festive trading period and previously received support through the Strategic Framework Business Fund will receive a top-up payment. Eligible businesses will be contacted directly by their local authority.

View guidance and eligibility for hospitality on the Scottish Government website.

This fund closed to applications on 31 January 2022. Hospitality and leisure business that are impacted by the requirements for physical distancing and capacity limits that came into force from 27 December 2021 and previously received support through the Strategic Framework Business Fund will receive a top-up payment. Eligible businesses will be contacted directly by their local authority.

View guidance and eligibility for hospitality and leisure businesses on the Scottish Government website.

The Nightclub Closure Fund will provide financial support to eligible nightclubs that are required to close to members of the public. Nightclubs which have previously received support will be contacted and asked to complete an application by 14 January 2022.

Read guidance and eligibility for nightclubs on the Scottish Government website.

This fund is now closed. The Public House Table Service Restrictions Fund will provide financial support to public houses that were required to introduce table service to help control the spread of COVID Omicron from December 2021. 

Read guidance and eligibility for public houses on the Scottish Government website.

The Taxi and Private Hire Driver and Operator Support Fund 2022 will provide a one-off payment to eligible drivers and operators. Local authorities will make a further payment to all drivers and operators who previously received a grant through the Taxi and Private Hire Driver and Operator Support Fund in 2021.

Read guidance and eligibility for taxis and private hire on the Scottish Government website. 

Parts of the tourism sector previously supported by VisitScotland will be eligible for funding including coach operators, day tour operators, hostels, inbound tour operators, outdoor and marine and visitor attractions.

View guidance for the tourism sector on the VisitScotland website.

The Scottish Wedding Industry Fund Top-Up will support businesses whose trade was impacted by the measures to control the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in December 2021 and January 2022.

Eligible businesses will receive an additional 12.5% of their original grant awards and will be contacted directly by the enterprise agencies from 20 January 2022. Businesses will be contacted by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Scottish Enterprise or South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), depending on the geographic area in which the business is located.

View guidance for the wedding sector on the Scottish Enterprise website.

The Scottish Government asks that all staff work from home whenever possible, and that businesses support their employees to do this.

Read Scottish Government guidance on safer working arrangements

The Scottish Government encourages everyone to take a lateral flow test (LFD) twice a week, even if you don’t have symptoms. This is especially important if you must go to work outside the home.

If you do have symptoms, book a PCR test right away.

Find out about free asymptomatic workplace testing for businesses and organisations in Scotland.

Remember the basics:

• make sure your workplace is well ventilated
• practice good hand hygiene
• observe social distancing
• wear face coverings in the workplace

Read more about precautionary measures you can take in the workplace to protect yourself and others.