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Category: Grants and Funding

Skye’s Tourism Businesses Need a Minimum Season of 20 Weeks if they are to Survive

Posted on by Fiona Campbell

The results of a SkyeConnect survey of business confidence, following the announcement of plans to re-open the economy, reveal another lockdown could decimate the industry.

Over one hundred businesses from the hotel, self-catering, B&B, campsite, restaurant, arts and crafts, visitor attraction and outdoor activity sectors, took part in the survey with almost 70% saying they need a minimum of a twenty-week season to survive.

The survey also reveals that even with a good summer season, some sectors such as hotels, restaurants, outdoor activities and visitor attractions will need the Furlough Scheme extended through the winter if they are to avoid letting some staff go.

However, there does appear to be a degree of confidence that sufficient holidaymakers will visit Skye this year. 56% of respondents said they were confident of being able to generate sufficient income to justify re-opening.

The survey asked businesses about their reopening plans. The vast majority are planning to reopen in May, although many self-catering businesses are set to reopen in April.

The survey also revealed an eagerness to extend the traditional summer season into late autumn and even through the winter. The majority of businesses responding to the survey said they were either intending to stay open through the winter or considering the option of remaining open.

Chair of SkyeConnect, Dave Till, says the survey shows the tourism industry cannot afford any further interruptions to trading.

“Now that we have a clear roadmap to re-opening, businesses are starting to recruit staff and invest in being able to offer a Covid-safe environment for visitors. We sincerely hope there will be no more lockdowns. Our industry needs at least five months of good trading conditions, just to survive. Beyond that, it is clear that Government support will still be required through the winter months, otherwise we are likely to see a rise in unemployment. SkyeConnect will use the data from this survey to lobby the Government after the election to ensure our fragile island economy and its hundreds of small, family-run businesses get the support they need as we all navigate our way along the long road of recovery out of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

ASSC and PASC UK Publish UK Wide Grant Survey

Posted on by Fiona Campbell

In March 2021, PASC UK and the ASSC gathered data about the various business support grant schemes across the UK, due to many self-catering operators highlighting concerns about the eligibility criteria associated with the grants from the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments in particular, as well as inability to access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or Self-Employed Income Support Scheme from the UK Government.

The online survey elicited 1395 responses from self-caterers in England, Scotland and Wales, from both PASC, ASSC members and non-members alike, across the UK’s local authority areas.

59% of responses were from members of PASC UK or the ASSC. 41% of responses were from non-members.

It is hoped that the survey results will inform greater discussion regarding the support provided to self-catering operators in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Key findings include: 

  • A good proportional split of responses were from across the UK, predominantly from rural locations with 47.38% being from England, 38.63% from Scotland and 15.63% from Wales.
  • NOTE: the survey did not extend to operators in Northern Ireland due to limitations in sources for circulation.
  • The majority of self-catering businesses have been running for at least 6 years. A large proportion of self-catering businesses have been running for 11 to 20 years or more, with some operating over 40 years.
  • Over 46% of respondents have either had signs of mental health or are experiencing some form of anxiety or depression, there is evidence of the impact of the Covid-19 crisis being felt across the sector.
  • Currently there is a mixed picture in terms of business confidence, with 38% of respondents being somewhat optimistic and 20% somewhat pessimistic and almost 27% taking a neutral view at the moment, not knowing what to expect.

Download the report:

UK Wide Grant Survey

Restart Grants for Small Accommodation Providers

Posted on by Fiona Campbell

We are delighted to be able to update on the SAP-CTF grant, and can confirm that additional funding for the Small Accommodation Providers paying Council Tax fund is available for eligible self-caterers and B&Bs to receive an SFBF April payment of £1,000 and a Restart Grant of £8,000.

Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) Chief Executive, Fiona Campbell, said:

“We are delighted that the Scottish Government has taken this decision and commend them for prioritising the needs of small, in many cases family-owned, businesses in this manner.

“Bolstering the Small Accommodation Providers Paying Council Tax Fund and the availability of Restart Grants will serve as vital lifelines to our sector at a time when many desperately need them.

“This pandemic has been incredibly difficult for everyone and with lockdown and stay at home orders in place this is a difficult and stressful time for our industry, however, action of this type from government is exactly what we need to help make sure that we can get back to creating memory-making holidays for our guests who need it now more than ever.”