Success for Highland MSP's Help Our B&Bs campaign as Scottish Government set to announce new coronavirus support measures later this week
Strathspey and Badenoch B&Bs that operate without business bank accounts have received fresh hope after the Scottish Government confirmed it is investigating ways in which small businesses without business bank accounts can be supported during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last week Highlands and Islands region MSP Edward Mountain, who launched the Help Our B&Bs campaign, criticised the Cabinet Secretary for Finance for excluding small B&Bs from vital financial support and pressed the Scottish Government to reconsider its position.
Yesterday, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture announced: “We are also working with local authorities to support small businesses who are not on the rates system and were not eligible for the hardship fund scheme, solely because they did not have a business bank account. Further detail on these arrangements will be set out later this week.”
The Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Enterprise Hardship Fund has now closed meaning hundreds of small B&Bs have been left without financial support.
Following this latest announcement Mr Mountain said: "Good news, I welcome the fact that the Scottish Government has finally heard the pleas from many small B&Bs across Scotland and, specifically, the Highlands and Islands. They need help and I trust the Scottish Government will now deliver.”
