Scotland’s COVID-19 Close Contact Services Fund Opens with Imminent Deadline

A one-off payment to is being made to support close contact service businesses in Scotland impacted by the most recent COVID-19 restrictions.

The Scottish Government has allocated funding to support businesses in close contact settings that have been impacted by the requirement for COVID-19 physical distancing and capacity limits, and advise to reduce contact with indoor settings, which have been in force over the winter period.

The new Close Contact Services Fund will provide financial support to businesses in the close contact service sectors affected by measures designed to control the Omicron coronavirus variant.

The grant is a one-off payment of:

  • £1,000 for self-employed businesses.
  • £1,500 for non-domestic rates (NDR) registered businesses with premises.

The scheme will support businesses in Scotland in the close contact service sectors who own/rent premises with a non-domestic rates account (NDR), and self-employed close contact service individuals, impacted by the restrictions and guidance introduced from 9 December 2021 to 24 January and where they are registered as one of the following:

  • Beauty services.
  • hairdressing and hair removal services.
  • Spa and wellness services.

The deadline for applications to be submitted ins Friday 4 March 2022.

(This report was the subject of a GRANTfinder Newsflash.)