Coronavirus fund should be a level playing field says boss
A businessman fears his company is being denied vital coronavirus cash support due to red tape.
Alan McTaggart owns and runs Myles Coachworks in Ayr.
The firm, also an approved body repair specialist as part of the Fix Auto franchise, has been operating in the town for 17 years.
But they currently stand to be rejected for grant help as the ongoing effects of lockdown hit hard.
Alan, who employs 16 at the Green Street site, said: “I assumed that getting support would be pretty straightforward.
“We applied for the Retail Funding Grant of £ 25,000 through South Ayrshire Council. “Initially everything seemed fine.
“I was told we qualified and the money would be over within days.
“But I subsequently received another email – very short and not even referencing me by name – saying we had been rejected.”
Council officials insist it is not they who are denying Alan’s firm – but legislation higher up the chain with the Scottish Government.
But Alan, 47, said: “It’s incredibly frustrating. “Lots of other Fix Auto franchies around the UK have received grant support.
“It surely can’t be a different rule for us.” Officials say Alan’s company has not been classed as retail as it falls into the “automotive services” category.
But he insists that is not a fair reflection. He added: “A large chunk of our turnover is part sales – I’d say that comes under retail.
“We’re an essential business that’s stayed open keeping key workers’ cars on the road during this crisis.
“We’ve been hard hit like all others, but we’ve tried our best to keep going.
“At the end of the day we’re a local firm which has always tried to be there for the community over the last 17 years.
“It just feels like a bit of a kick in the teeth to be getting such little help at a time of severe financial pressure when everyone’s future is in jeopardy.”
A spokesman for South Ayrshire Council, who have been handling Alan’s claim, said: “So far, we have successfully processed 1,344 business support grants and we continue to work with applicants to get the information we need to process their applications.
“We closely follow the Scottish Government’s eligibility criteria for these grants and on April 30, this criteria was updated to say that in Scotland, automotive services do not qualify as retail and will therefore not be eligible for the £ 25,000 business support grant.
“The application is now going through our appeals process.”