An extra £3m to be shared on islands

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has announced £3.3 million of additional funding to support the industry.

Funding will be shared by Orkney, Shetland and Na h-Eileanan Siar – all of which are covered by level three restrictions.

The move brings support for island businesses in these sectors into line with those affected by level four on the mainland. Firms are eligible for one-off grants ranging from £6,000 to £25,000 per premises, based on sector and rateable value.

Chair of the Sustainable Development Committee, Cllr Donald Crichton said: “This will come as welcome news and a relief to many businesses in the hospitality, retail and leisure sectors. Despite our Tier three status the economy in the islands is still facing pressure and challenges. This funding will go some way to alleviating this pressure in the meantime as part of a range of economic recovery activities in which the Comhairle and partners are engaged to enable viable businesses to survive the COVID-19 outbreak and prosper in future years.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said: “While the island authorities are currently in level three and not facing the same restrictions on business as the rest of Scotland, this funding recognises that travel restrictions will have a major impact on the island economies.

“This funding will help to support businesses during these challenging times and bring support into line with that available to their mainland counterparts.”