CLOSED 

This fund will close to new applications at 5 p.m. on Friday 10th July 2020

 

The Scottish Government's Bed & Breakfast Hardship Fund is designed to support small serviced accommodation providers who have not been able to access support through other government backed schemes.

This scheme was originally aimed at providing support to the business types mentioned above operating with only a personal or joint personal bank account, however applications can now be considered from businesses operating with a business bank account.

For the purposes of this fund, small serviced accommodation is defined as “B&Bs and other establishments offering bed and breakfast services (e.g. Guest House, Farmhouse, Inn, Restaurant with Rooms)”. B&Bs using a digital or online marketing platform, such as AirBnB, Booking.com or a community website, as primary or only source of independent listing can now be considered eligible for the fund. In this case the applicant must be confident the business is operating as B&B and not solely property, room or holiday letting. This fund excludes other types of non-serviced accommodation providers such as self-catering, caravan accommodation.

NB. Applicants cannot be in receipt of other COVID-19 related business grant support. (e.g. not in receipt of Non-Domestic Rates Covid Grants, Small Business Grants, Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Hardship Grants).  NB. Applicants are permitted to make use of Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and can be in receipt of SEISS. NB. Receipt of Universal Benefit and other working age state benefits continue as grounds for application rejection.

 

The Bed & Breakfast Hardship Fund offers a one-off non-repayable hardship relief grant payment of £3,000.

PLEASE NOTE: To be eligible you must meet all of the Scottish Government’s criteria below

  • My business has membership, accreditation, registration or listing with a recognised hospitality or tourism agency, representative body or marketing organisation (national or local) prior to March 2020
  • At least 35% of my individual income comes from the affected business
  • My trading profits were below £50,000 in financial year 2019-20
  • I can provide evidence of active trading up to March 2020 and intend to continue trading in the tax year 2020-21
  • I have been in business for at least a year and filed a HMRC business tax return for 2018/2019
  • I have lost business, or anticipate losing business this year, due to coronavirus and am experiencing or anticipating financial hardship as a result. A personal cash-flow statement covering 1st April 2020 to 30th September 2020 will be required to demonstrate this).
  • I am ineligible for other COVID-19 related business support (including the Business Interruption Loan Schemes, Corporate Finance Fund, Job Retention Schemes, Future Fund, R&D Focussed SMEs Fund,Non-Domestic Rates relief, Small Business Grant or other business support)
  • I do not receive working age benefit payments (Universal Credit, Statutory Sick Pay, Employment and Support Allowance, Job Seekers’ Allowance, Income Support) or have applied for but not yet started receiving Universal Credit or an advanced payment of Universal Credit
  • I have taken steps to limit costs and expenditure (including through schemes such as VAT deferral and seeking a mortgage payment holiday)
  • I do not have access to sufficient savings or other sources of income to meet basic needs

 

Before starting the online application, please read our FAQ document to check on eligibility and then ensure you have the appropriate supporting documentation available to upload.

  • MANDATORY: Photographic proof of identity - valid passport or driving licence (including provisional driving licence).
  • MANDATORY: Proof of business address - a recent council tax bill, utility bill
  • MANDATORY: business membership or affiliation
    • Membership, accreditation, registration or listing with a recognised hospitality or tourism agency, representative body or marketing organisation.  This could include VisitScotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish B&B Association or a local tourism body (for example, Visit Wester Ross)
    • Electronic or photographic evidence of membership or listing
    • Use of digital or online marketing platform, such as AirBnB, Booking.com or community website, as primary or only source of independent listing.  
    • Proof of registration, affiliation, membership or online listing should be prior to March 2020
  • MANDATORY: Bank statements (personal or joint personal or business bank accounts ) covering 3 months between April 2019 and March 2020 showing income and outgoings from bed and breakfast trading activity.
    • Acknowledging the seasonal nature of most serviced accommodation, applicants should select the 3 months from between April 2019 and March 2020 that provide the most robust evidence of trading - most likely this will be from their peak season.
  • MANDATORY: Cash Flow Personal Statement
    • A personal statement of financial hardship that includes a forward look covering the period end March 2020 to end September 2020 (6 months).  This statement should include a projected loss of sales/revenue from business activity over the coming summer season and self-declaration this amounts to up to 35% of individual income. 
  • MANDATORY: Financial information including turnover figure from previous year
    • Trading accounts, including turnover, from 2018-19, plus one of the following:
       
  • VAT Registration Number. This should be a letter or electronic communication.

OR

  • Registration Number - provided by Companies House (CRN), Charities Commission, Mutuals, Public Register and other statutory and regulatory bodies that you must file accounts and annual membership details with.

OR

  • Unique Tax Reference Number - If you do not have a Company Registration Number or a VAT registration number as detailed above, you should provide your HMRC Corporation Tax Unique Taxpayer Reference or HMRC Self-Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference, as appropriate for your entity. You will be asked to scan and upload a copy of this document or most up to date letter you have received from HMRC  with your UTR number included.

 

  • MANDATORY: Any one of the following:
    • A supplier or reseller trade account (active).

OR

  • Valid business insurance in the trading name of the business or name of the applicant

OR

  • Marketing materials for your business, e.g. business website, active social media. Web links, social media account name (LinkedIn, Facebook, Booking.com etc…)

OR

  • Other evidence of business activity to support your claim. This could include correspondence with a supplier or customer or testimonials.

 

The scheme is being administered in Fife by Fife Council.

HAVE YOU READ OUR FAQs regarding the Bed & Breakfast Hardship Fund - CLICK HERE TO VIEW THEM NOW

 

PLEASE ENSURE YOU READ THE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE REQUIREMENTS CAREFULLY AND SUBMIT ACCURATE DOCUMENTATION TO ENSURE YOUR APPLICATION IS PROCESSED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE