Coronavirus (COVID-19)

View updates on council services. If you are affected and need assistance, please visit Grampian Coronavirus (COVID-19) Assistance Hub.

Support for business community - Coronavirus

With the escalation of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to reassure the businesses and communities of Aberdeenshire that we are working on your behalf to minimise the negative impact on the economy. We are liaising closely with both the UK and Scottish governments and will continue to do so as the situation develops. From this, we aim to develop a transferable action plan that will help us to assist our businesses and residents.

Together with our partner organisations, we will work, as far as is practically possible, to lessen the negative impact that is being felt from the effects of COVID-19. We appreciate that this is a very difficult time for your business and we are here to support you.

We also share updates as they become available on Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have a specific request and wish to contact a member of the Aberdeenshire Economic Development team, please email econdev@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

On this page you can view guidance and support available for businesses:

If you are a British Sign Language (BSL) user, you can have this information translated via contactSCOTLAND-BSL, the online British Sign Language interpreting service.

Essential services and key workers

Scottish Government has provided guidance on what is a key worker as it relates to the COVID-19 crisis. They have also provided guidance on what is an essential service.

Each business should read the guidance from the Scottish Government, use their judgement and follow safe working practices for essential work under the COVID-19 regulations.

Aberdeenshire Council recognises that there will be many businesses across the area whose workers perform essential tasks to keep the country running, including in the energy supply, transport and logistics and food and drink sectors.  We have worked carefully with public and private sector partners and business and industry representative groups to agree an essential services and key worker list (pdf 113KB) that will enable eligible workers to request childcare provision in Aberdeenshire’s network of childcare hubs. Further information and guidance is available from the key workers page.

To help with the provision of information, employers are requested to consider the Aberdeenshire Council list and to identify the essential services they provide and the key workers who are required to deliver the services by completion of the proforma:

Business Gateway support

Business Gateway provides a list of free business resources that may be useful to you. All workshops are live streamed and advisor appointments carried out remotely. You can also contact Business Gateway Aberdeen City and Shire.

Job retention scheme

Under the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme, all UK employers will be able to access temporary support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis.

Please note that this scheme is not being administered by local authorities. HMRC will be launching an online application portal by the end of April and employers will need to apply directly. 

For more information please view:

Self-employment income support

Information on the process for claiming a grant for loss of earnings for self-employed (and partnerships) is now available. This scheme will allow you to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of your trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months. This may be extended if needed.

Please note you cannot apply for this scheme yet. The scheme is not being administered by local authorities. HMRC will contact you if you are eligible for the scheme and invite you to apply online. Individuals do not need to contact HMRC.

Scottish Government support

Scottish Government announced measures worth £2.2 billion for business to limit the impact of COVID-19.

Term funding scheme

Banks and building societies can participate in the Bank of England’s Term Funding Scheme announced on 11th March 2020 with additional incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises. Companies can ask their funders about the implications for business lending.

Coronavirus business interruption loan scheme

If you are either a small or medium sized business, you can access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme which is available from 23rd March 2020.

Support for a large business

The Covid Corporate Financing Facility CCFF is a scheme for larger firms via the Bank of England. CCFF Market Notice explains some of the detail of how the facility will work. Application forms and pricing are available from the Bank of England’s website from 23rd March 2020.

The bank will publish a dedicated webpage for corporates seeking to use the CCFF as soon as possible.

Guidance for UK businesses trading internationally

This is new guidance for UK businesses who are trading internationally. Find out more about the support.

Insurance guidance

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) have issued a statement on business insurance cover. ABI also published commonly asked questions about insurance which includes business insurance, trade credit, income protection and pensions and investments.

Food businesses – take away and delivery services

The Scottish Government has announced a relaxation of the planning requirements on food businesses offering take away or delivery services. All food businesses will be able to trade in this way without formal planning consent.

Tourism businesses 

Guidance for tourism businesses and their current and future visitors is available from VisitScotland.

Support for business water bills

A package of measures worth £60 million has been agreed between the Scottish Government and the water industry to help businesses facing difficulties with water charges.

Oil and gas sector

Industry updates from oil and gas UK.

Support for seafood sector

The seafood sector is to receive an initial package of more than £5 million in financial support to assist businesses during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Financial support for seafood processors to help them through economic pressures related to COVID-19 will be available through a new £10 million scheme. Businesses will be required to apply for support and meet the relevant criteria – further details of which will be published in the coming days. All seafood processors who meet the criteria can apply. A mix of grants, up to the revised state aid level of 120,000 euros, and loans will be available.

The third sector resilience fund

Now open for applications, the primary intention of the fund is to help third sector organisations to stabilise and manage cash flows over this difficult period. Read more about the third sector resilience fund.

Creative community

View funding and resources available to those in the creative community.

My World of Work

If you have lost your job due to coronavirus there are jobs available now, for example in supermarkets and the NHS. Search the Skills Development Scotland job hub, My World of Work.

Lifeline support for business 

Lifeline support for business has been confirmed. A £100m fund to support the newly self-employed and SMEs in distress will be available in the coming days. This is broken into three separate funds:

Loan scheme for small business

The small business boosted by bounce back loans will launch for applications on Monday 4th May 2020. Firms will be able to access these loans through a network of accredited lenders.

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