Background
- Inverclyde Council’sCOVID-19 Discretionary Fund is to provide financial support to Inverclyde businesses who have less than 50 employees and have been unable to secure any COVID-19 business grant support to date, or where they have had COVID-19 business grant support they can demonstrate that this has not been sufficient to keep them in a viable trading position.
- Businesses can only apply once and to the Local Authority area in which their business operates.
- Applicants will need to provide their last full years accredited accounts.
- The Discretionary Fund is open to eligible businesses regardless of the rateable value of their business premises, and to eligible businesses who do not operate from fixed premises.
- The Discretionary Fund is open to eligible businesses regardless of trading status, and is therefore open to businesses trading as Limited companies.
- Grant support will not be provided if the business/individual are found to have breached any COVID-19 regulations.
- Eligible Inverclyde businesses can apply to Inverclyde Council for a one-off grant payment of up to £10,000 for those who have not been able to secure any other COVID-19 business grant support to date, or up to £2,500 for those who have had other COVID-19 business grant support (this element of the fund will only be paid in exceptional circumstances).
- The grant payment will normally be paid into a Business bank account.
- Approval of a grant via the Discretionary Fund is at the sole discretion of Inverclyde Council.
- Where an application is unsuccessful, there would be a right of Appeal to the Council’s Head of Regeneration & Planning.
Eligibility
Only one grant is payable to a business who meets ALL of the eligibility requirements detailed below. To be eligible for this Fund the business must:
- Operate within Inverclyde.
- Employ less than 50 employees.
- Provide their last full years accredited accounts.
- Have not received any other COVID-19 business grant support, OR if COVID-19 business grant support has been received it has been insufficient to maintain a viable trading position.
- Have lost business due to Coronavirus and be experiencing financial hardship as a result.
- Confirm they have taken steps to limit business expenditure and costs.
- Have not been found to have breached any COVID-19 regulations.
How To Apply
Applications must be made on Inverclyde Council’s COVID-19 Discretionary Fund application form, found here: https://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/covid-19/business-support
The following supporting documentation MUST be e-mailed along with the completed application form. Failure to do so will hinder the progress of the application:-
- Last full year’s accredited accounts.
- Copy of a business bank statement (dated within the last 3 months) for the account you have given details of in the application form. The Statement must clearly show the Name of the Account Holder, the Account Number and Sort Code.
- Evidence of active trading up to 30/3.20. Evidence can be in the form of:
- A supplier or reseller trade account (active).
- Valid business insurance.
- HMRC Unique Taxpayer Reference (if registered). If not yet registered, copy of correspondence/other details showing registration is being sought/or provide further details to explain position.
- VAT Registration Number.
- Marketing materials, eg business website, active social media – provide web links.
- Other evidence of business activity (eg correspondence with customers or suppliers).
Where To Send The Application Form & Supporting Documentation
Applications must be emailed by the applicant, along with all supporting documents, to employabilityandskills@inverclyde.gov.uk
Application Assessment
Applications will be assessed by Council staff against all of the eligibility criteria. If the applicant is eligible for the grant the Council will aim to make payment within 10 working days from receipt of a fully completed application. A fully completed application includes receipt of all the additional information and supporting documentation requested by the Council.
Ronnie Cowan MP 