On 31 August (at noon) applications will open for a new £6m grant fund available to suppliers operating in the Scottish events industry. The fund will provide a grant of £10,000 to eligible applicants on a first come first served basis.
To be eligible applicants must not have received any other grant funding sponsored by the Scottish Government such as:
- Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund
- Retail, hospitality and leisure sector grants (property with a rateable value between £18,001 – £51,000)
- Creative, Tourism & Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund
- Tourism Destination and Sector Organisation Support Fund
- Small Business Support Grant (£10,000 – £25,000)
- Coronavirus Support Scheme for Self-Catering Businesses
- Hotel Recovery Programme
- Performing Arts Venue Relief Fund
- Grassroots Music Venues Fund
Eligible applicants will be those who can confirm that they earned at least £10,000, making up at least 40% of their earnings through 2019/20, from the supply to, organisation of, and/or delivery of or to Events in Scotland so the scheme is not available to performers or venues for example. The guidance suggests that the following service providers may be eligible:
- Events Medical Services
- Health & Safety Provision for Events
- Audio Visual and Technology
- Staging and Temporary Seating
- Event Equipment Hire
- Temporary Event Utilities
- Production Services for events
- Marquee Hire
- Event and production Crew
- Event organiser / producer / promoter
- Events Freelancers
- Catering
- Security
- Event Transport
- Accreditation Solutions
- Event Merchandise
- Photography
- Ticketing
- Marketing and PR
- Design and Print
- Venue Dressing
- Activity Providers
- Exhibition Services (including trades people, electricians, joiners)
- Florists
- PCO – Professional Conference Organisers
- DMC – Destination Management Companies
- Tour Guide / Operator for event groups
- Translation Services for event groups
Given the fact that the fund is limited to £6million and available on a first come first served basis then it is important that eligible businesses review the requirements now to enure that they can apply as soon as possible after the scheme opens at noon on 31 August.
More info on eligibility criteria and the evidence that you will need to provide as part of your application can be found in the detailed guidance that can be accessed here:
https://www.visitscotland.org/events/funding/coronavirus-support-fund
