Businesses in Aberdeen have already received close to £5million in business support to help them during the coronavirus lockdown.
Firms classed as “non-essential” have been forced to temporarily close, leaving them with bills to pay but no income.
A range of support mechanisms have been implemented by the Scottish and UK governments to allow companies to cover the costs during this time.
These have included the introduction of several one-off grants, which are being administered via local authorities.
Aberdeen City Council has already received hundreds of applications for these from entrepreneurs operating in the area.
Relief of £25,000 is being offered to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
And new council figures have revealed that 70 applications for this have so far resulted in pay-outs, totalling £1,750,000.
In addition, 314 requests for the £10,000 small business support grant have been granted, totalling £3,140,000.
The city council has said a further 170 applications have been approved with the payments currently being processed, while a further 373 are pending approval due to incomplete information.
It added that approximately 4% of requests received have failed to meet the Scottish Government’s eligibility criteria,
Alex Nicoll, the council’s SNP group leader, said “The grant of either £10,000 or £25,000, which does not have to be paid back, will be very much welcomed by businesses in Aberdeen given the unprecedented impact Covid-19 is having on trade in our city.
“It is welcome to see that the first grants have been handed out to businesses and I hope the council ensures the funds are delivered as quickly as possible to businesses to alleviate financial pressures.
“We are living in unprecedented times and we must work with our partners in the Scottish Government and business community to ensure Aberdeen’s economy can thrive in the long term.”
