VisitScotland has today (Monday 24 August) announced the details of a £6 million fund to help the events sector recover from the Covid-19 pandemic while restrictions on the sector are still in place. The Events Industry Support Fund will comprise of a one-off grant of £10,000 to support businesses in the events industry, particularly those in the supply chain, that are facing hardship and will be awarded as applications are received.
The fund is being delivered on behalf of the Scottish Government by VisitScotland and its EventScotland team, with development input from the newly formed Event Industry Advisory Group (EIAG). The funding was announced as part of a £10 million package of support on 26 July by Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture to help the events industry, parts of which are not yet able to reopen, and those which can are operating with limited numbers and other changes in light of the pandemic. This will help to ensure that these businesses are able to support the delivery of events in Scotland when we recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
This fund will support businesses which have not received Scottish Government sponsored COVID related funding from other schemes and which meet the eligibility criteria. This includes suppliers working to organise, stage and deliver in Scotland, business and MICE events (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) and/ or cultural and sporting events and festivals which are open to the public.
Applications for the fund will open from noon on 31 August 2020 until noon on 14 September 2020 with full details on the application process and requirements available at: https://www.visitscotland.org/events/funding/coronavirus-support-fund
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture said:
“We know the events sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and whilst we have set out indicative dates for a staged return of the industry, difficulties will continue for a long time to come.
“This funding is the result of close collaboration with the sector to work out exactly what challenges they face and tailor our support to help them as best we can. Scotland has a track record of successfully planning and delivering events at international, national and local level and we will continue to work with the sector as we emerge from lockdown to ensure we remain the perfect stage.”
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events said:
“The events industry has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic as one of the first industries to stop and it will be one of the last to restart. There is a desperate need for support and this £6 million Scottish Government fund will help a number of businesses in the short term until we can start to run events again.
“This fund is designed to give a much needed cashflow support to those companies who have faced real hardship during lockdown. It is on a first come, first served approach, with only the first 600 applications being awarded funding, so I would urge those in the events supply chain to get their applications in as soon as possible.”
This fund is open to the self-employed (through limited company or as a sole trader), partnerships and incorporated businesses who can demonstrate that supply to, organisation of and/or delivery of or to events in Scotland represents their primary source of income and that they earned a minimum of £10,000 from the supply to events in Scotland in 2019/20. Applicants must have a place of business in Scotland and be supplying to events physically taking place here with only one application per business being permitted.
The following business types are eligible for support:
| Events Medical Services Health & Safety Provision for Events Audio Visual and Technology Staging and Temporary Seating Equipment Hire Temporary Event Utilities Production Services for events Marquee Hire Event and production Crew Event organiser / producer / promoter | Events Freelancers Catering Security Event Transport Accreditation Solutions Event Merchandise Photography Ticketing Marketing and PR Design and Print Venue Dressing Activity Providers | Exhibition Services (including trades people, electricians, joiners) Florists Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) Destination Management Companies (DMC) Tour Guide / Operator for event groups Translation Services for event groups
The fund is not intended to support; year-round operations such as attractions, venues; the hospitality industry such as hotels, pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants and nightclubs; private, social or family events such as weddings, dinners, functions or parties; community sports groups, teams or clubs; professional sports teams; artists, performers and athletes.
For further information on the fund and the guidance document (including criteria), please go to: https://www.visitscotland.org/events/funding/coronavirus-support-fund
Work is ongoing with the events sector on eligibility for support from the remainder of the total £10 million funding package. Further details on this will be announced once this process is complete.
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