£3.6m boost as council works round the clock to pay out grants

Some £3.6 million of grants have been paid out to local businesses across Argyll and Bute in just a few short weeks, according to new statistics.

It follows a flood of more than 1,800 inquiries to Argyll and Bute Council which is administering a Scottish Government scheme, said Bid4Oban.

Businesses needing to protect jobs, prevent closures and promote economic recovery can apply for grants for between £10,000 and £25,000 through the council, with a deadline of March 31, 2021.

Figures accurate as of last Thursday (April 9) show that 530 claims have been processed by the council’s finance department which has come under huge pressure, said Mr Andrew Spence, chief executive of Bid4Oban.

‘So far they’ve done an excellent job – as have all departments across the council,’ said Mr Spence.

‘I would like to pay tribute to the work they have had to do to keep the community safe and the business community supported.’

Many businesses remain concerned about the outcome of their application but Mr Spence advised that if people had not had any queries raised by the council, then the chances are it would be paid once processed.

So far, the council has approved 447 grants for between £10,000 and 42 for £25,000, and is working round-the-clock to get through the applications, he said.

The BID group is also actively lobbying for more support for sole traders and those businesses associated with tourism which do not always qualify for the grant help, to ensure they did not fall between the cracks of support, he added.

Mr Spence called on local residents to throw their support behind those local firms still operating – either on skeleton staffing levels or from home.

Accountants, legal firms, banks, insurance brokers and travel agents are still working after facing a flood of customer concerns, he said.

Supermarkets and small businesses including local butchers and takeaways are adjusting to stay afloat, while nimble-footed restaurants and cafes have also turned to getting out deliveries from Piazza in Oban to the Taste of Argyll, among others.

Mr Spence’s message to Oban was that customers must back those local businesses open at this time as they remained ‘very vulnerable’ to the lockdown.

‘Support them now like never before,’ said Mr Spence.

The Oban Times has a dedicated page online promoting the businesses seen here, which are still open for business – visit www. obantimes.co.uk/openforbusiness