Further Expansion of UK Government Business Support The Chancellor Rishi Sunak has outlined additional business support measures today. A summary has been provided via the below link for your information.
Please note the following:
Jobs Support Scheme This is a UK-wide scheme which Scottish businesses will be able to access. However, further detail is expected on Friday as to how it will align with the Scottish Government’s Tiered Approach.
Today’s announcement reduces the employer contribution to those unworked hours to just 5%, and reduces the minimum hours requirements to 20%, so those working just one day a week will be eligible.
Business Grants Support Scotland will receive consequential funding through the Barnett Formula. We are awaiting further detail from the UK Treasury.
Self-Employed Grant It will be available to anyone who was previously eligible for the SEISS grant one and grant two, and meets the eligibility criteria. It also increases the amount of profits covered by the two forthcoming self-employed grants from 20 per cent to 40 per cent, meaning the maximum grant will increase from £1,875 to £3,750.
Responding, SCC Chief Executive Liz Cameron said:
“The UK Chancellor’s new business grant and job support scheme extension will be absolutely necessary to the survival of many businesses as Covid-19 restrictions are set to be in place indefinitely.
"The boost to the self-employed grant will be welcomed by many who have been at risk of not receiving the support that they need.
“Chambers of Commerce in Scotland and the UK have been campaigning for greater support for businesses experiencing big falls in demand as a result of new restrictions, and a number of the steps announced today, including the lowering of employer contributions and the number of hours worked needed to qualify for the jobs support scheme, respond directly to our calls.
“As the Scottish Government is set to confirm its own approach to a tiered system of restrictions, it is essential that consequential funding is delivered to where it is needed most to save jobs. This must also be tied to every stage of restriction as a matter of course and not in incremental, repeated tweaks.
“It is clear that this winter will be extremely difficult for employers, their employees and a sustained approach to jobs support into 2021 is critical.’’
Scots Told To Prepare For 'Digital Christmas' The idea of a normal Christmas is a "fiction" and Scots should prepare for digital celebrations, national clinical director Jason Leitch has said.
The Scottish Government has insisted that the latest Covid-19 restrictions are having an impact on the spread of the virus.
Measures could be eased if case numbers fall, but Mr Leitch said people should "get their digital Christmas ready".
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the government was making "really tough" decisions and would not "tell people what they want to hear to make it easier in the here and now".
Tight restrictions on the hospitality trade focused in particular on Scotland's central belt have been extended for another week as coronavirus case numbers continue to rise.
These short-term measures are to be replaced with a new five-tier system of alert levels from 2 November, although First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned that this does not rule out "even tougher restrictions" being imposed if necessary.
The new strategic framework will include different levels of restrictions that can be applied nationally or regionally, it may lead to tighter restrictions for all or parts of Scotland.
It will be subject to parliamentary approval and, if that is gained, it is intended that the levels will be applied by 2 November.
As a result of the extensions to restrictions upon the hospitality sector, funding for business grants over this period will be increased proportionately.
As a result, funding for business grants over this period will be increased proportionately.
All grants will be administered by local authorities. The increase will be automatic and businesses that have already applied for a grant will not have to re-apply.
The deadline for applications for this stream of funding is Tuesday 3 November at 5pm.
Licensed Traders Threaten Legal Action Over Scottish Restrictions Five Scottish hospitality industry bodies have launched a legal challenge against the Scottish government's Covid restrictions.
The trade bodies say they will petition for a judicial review if the current curbs are not withdrawn.
The move was announced after the restrictions, including pub closures in the central belt, were extended.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said businesses had the right to challenge decisions, but she added they were not "taken lightly".
Spokesman for the traders, Paul Waterson, warned the sector was "at breaking point".
The organisations behind the proposed legal bid include;
They issued a pre-action letter to the Scottish government demanding it withdraw the current regulations and enter into a "meaningful consultation with the [hospitality] sector".
The group says it wants an answer from ministers by 4pm on Wednesday, 28 October and if a satisfactory response is not received it will petition for a Judicial Review.
Quarantine Measures For Travellers From Liechtenstein Travellers from Liechtenstein must quarantine on arrival in Scotland for 14 days from 4am on Sunday (25 October).
This is due to a significant rise in cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as an increase in the numbers of cases testing positive in Lichtenstein as well as the associated risk of importation into Scotland.
However, from Sunday, travellers arriving from the Canary Islands, Denmark, the Maldives and the Greek island of Mykonos will no longer need to quarantine due to the low number of cases.
£2m Package For Residential Outdoor Education Centres The Scottish Government will provide £2 million of funding to mitigate the financial challenges facing the residential outdoor education sector as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
The package will include funding to help centres provide safe, impactful outdoor learning experiences to support young people’s education and wellbeing through this challenging period.
Discussions on administration of the package of support continue. Details of how to apply will be made available as soon as possible.
Alongside the new fund, the Scottish Government will produce a package of communication and support materials to local authorities and schools in order to publicise the opportunities for outdoor learning experiences in their area.
UK Government Approval For Creation Of Scottish Spaceport Hundreds of space jobs will be created in Scotland following the approval of plans for Lockheed Martin to transfer its satellite launch operations to Shetland Space Centre by the UK government.
Shetland Space Centre anticipates that by 2024, the spaceport site could support a total of 605 jobs in Scotland including 140 locally and 210 across the wider Shetland region. A further 150 jobs will also be created through manufacturing and support services.
Following a thorough process of due diligence, the UK Space Agency has confirmed that Lockheed Martin’s plans to move its UK Pathfinder Launch to the Shetland site at Lamba Ness on Unst would continue to deliver long-term value and help establish a sustainable, commercial launch market as part of the UK’s spaceflight programme – LaunchUK.
Lockheed Martin is in discussions with a preferred partner to provide launch services for its UK Pathfinder Launch, which would take place from Shetland Space Centre.
Get Behind Scotland Loves Local Scotland Loves Local is a Scotland-wide campaign encouraging all of us to get behind the people and businesses at the heart of our town centres and high streets.
The £1 million ‘Scotland Loves Local’ fund will provide grants of between £500 and £5,000 to hundreds of projects to promote town centre and online businesses. The funding is NOT for businesses, but Chambers, not for profits and BIDs can apply.
The funding aims to support small scale improvements that will help motivate people to shop, eat and relax within their community whilst ensuring public health safety.
Grants can be put towards providing safe shopping information for residents and tourists, the installation of public health infrastructure such as protective screens, physical distancing markers, hand sanitising equipment and PPE.
Virtual Trade Missions To Shandong And Inner Mongolia Scottish Chambers of Commerce is pleased to invite applications from any Scottish business for these virtual outward trade missions to Shandong and Inner Mongolia.
These missions will build on our existing strong business relationships and are open to any business based in Scotland - not only Chamber members.
The events take place on 17th and 24th November and will introduce the main socio-economic profile of the regions and highlight the opportunities for B2B trade.
SCC will introduce the main participants and explain the collaborative support available from the Scottish Government, SDI and SCC and will highlight the main opportunities for B2B trade connections.
Following the conference, a matching process will take place to identify suitable business contacts for you based on your specific business objectives.
This will be followed by a series of one-to-one B2B meetings (and, if helpful, sectoral based webinars) over several days with our counterparts.
The intention is to follow up with trade missions in 2021 when travel restrictions are lifted.
Support For Those Affected By Redundancy Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) is the Scottish Government’s initiative dedicated to responding to redundancy situations.
It’s a partnership of organisations, which includes the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, dedicated to providing free and impartial advice, guidance and support during redundancy.
PACE can help businesses by supporting employees through the redundancy process. PACE is available to all individuals affected by redundancy, no matter the size of the business.
PACE Advisers have extensive experience of dealing with redundancy situations and can:
Skills Development Scotland leads on the delivery of PACE on behalf of the Scottish Government and a number of partners.
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SCC SUPPORT HUB
The SCC Business Support Hub The Business Support Hub on the SCC website has been created to enable businesses to find useful information quickly.
The Hub is updated daily and includes information on business support, access to finance, contact numbers, public information and travel advice.
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