More than £16million in lockdown support has been handed to Renfrewshire traders under a government bailout scheme launched four months ago.

The money includes £8.7m to compensate businesses for having to close during the pandemic.

A further £6m has been given as top-up payments to 852 Renfrewshire firms in the hospitality and leisure sector, while around 1,000 taxi drivers have shared an extra £1.5m.

Seventy seven unnamed local firms were also awarded an additional £500,000 in emergency assistance on top of any other financial support provided to them.

All of the payouts, which don’t include money given to firms through the UK Government’s furlough scheme, were administered by Renfrewshire Council on behalf of the Scottish Government’s Strategic Framework Business Fund, launched in November.

It provides grants of up to £3,000 every four weeks for firms forced to close down or restrict their opening hours during the Covid outbreak.

Bob Grant, chief executive of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The funding has been a real lifeline to local businesses. If that wasn’t in place, the economic impact would have been far greater.”

“The most important things is that any funding made available through this scheme is put out to our members as soon as possible.

“It doesn’t replace lost income but it is certainly a support and it’s absolutely welcome and badly needed.

“Furlough money has also been vital and without that the impact of the lockdown would have been devastating.”

Meanwhile, a popular Bishopton restaurant is among 123 businesses to have benefited from Renfrewshire Council’s Coronavirus Business Support Fund.

Around £500,000 has been awarded through the fund, which offers loans and match-funded grants to help with short-term cashflow, meet changed objectives and adapt commercial premises.

For Brian Cunningham, co-owner of Angelini’s Italian restaurant, an adaptation grant proved vital in making sure it could continue to trade.

He said: “We needed to adapt the layout, as it was too small to accommodate enough customers sitting in and manage takeaway collections while meeting the Covid guidelines.

“The council grant allowed us to remove a wall and put down flooring, which opened up our restaurant and worked well.

“We would not have been able to trade efficiently if this grant wasn’t received, so it was most welcome at that time as every penny counted in our quest to help Angelini’s survive the pandemic whilst keeping up to 15 staff in work.

“We appreciate all the support the government and local authority have provided us to date and fingers crossed we will come out the back of this situation stronger than when it hit us.”

The fund is open now for online applications on the Council website where details of all available support is set out.

Next week, the second phase of the Discretionary Business Grant will be open for applications, supporting small and microbusinesses who are experiencing the most disruption but have been ineligible for other grant support.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “I am acutely aware of the immense pressure and challenge the many brilliant businesses in Renfrewshire continue to face as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“These businesses are run by local people, our neighbours, friends and family, providing important services, hospitality and local jobs and I want them to know that the Council continues to do everything it can to support them at this tough time.

“Financial support has been critical in helping businesses survive and our teams are working tirelessly to ensure the Council and government funds reach businesses as quickly as possible, while our business advisers are on hand to provide specialist support and direct business owners to available support.

“We established our own fund listening to what our business community told us could make the greatest impact and I’m pleased to hear that it is being well received. The creation of the discretionary grant is also making a difference locally, targeting assistance to people self-employed and local traders who may have been ineligible for other grant assistance.

“We continue to work with the Scottish Government and local partners to support Renfrewshire businesses, enabling them to innovate, adapt and become more resilient, working to provide the right business and funding support to ensure not only their survival, but their future development and growth.”

For details on available support for businesses click HERE.

The Council’s inhouse Business Gateway team is available to provide support and assistance by calling 0141 530 2406 or emailing renfrewshire@bgateway.com.
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