Jackie Brierton MBE, GrowBiz CEO

Over 60% of rural and island businesses in Scotland had to halt all business activity at the start of the pandemic, with only 8% reporting that they were operating as usual. Although many will be able to start to prepare for reopening in July, the financial impact of such a lengthy period of non -trading will make it impossible for many businesses to fully recover. 

The Coronavirus outbreak has hit rural micro-enterprises and self-employed people particularly hard, with many being ineligible to access the Government’s existing range of business support schemes.

Working with Crowdfund Scotland, the REDS Fund: Supporting Rural Scotland’s Future launched yesterday and aims to raise £3 million by August 6, which will support almost 1200 rural micro-enterprises across Scotland.

Jackie Brierton MBE, GrowBiz CEO, said: “The coronavirus crisis has had a devastating impact on thousands of Scotland’s micro-enterprises, which form the backbone of our rural economy. In order for these businesses to survive in the short-term, they need support – both financial and practical – and a sense that they’ll be assisted to adapt where necessary and ultimately recover.

“One of the key target groups for the funding will be young people. Benny Higgin’s Economic Recovery report earlier this week highlighted the need for a jobs guarantee for 16–25-year-olds but in rural areas, opportunities for self-employment and enterprise may be a more viable solution for this age group. And they’ll need funding to develop their ideas.”

Rural businesses will be able to apply to the REDS Fund for grants of up to £5,000.

The project is designed to help micro-enterprises connect and help each other so it will work on a 50:50 principle; 50% of the grant awarded will go the business requiring the support and 50% to whichever business(es) provide them with a service or support, thereby circulating cash within rural communities.

Businesses and social enterprises applying to the Fund will register with the first ever Rural Enterprise Directory Scotland (REDS), leading to increased collaboration and support between businesses across rural areas. They will also receive business support and advice as required from GrowBiz and other ecosystem partners.

Ms Brierton continued: “Over the past few months, we have witnessed the hardships and suffering experienced by those who have poured years of hard work into building successful rural micro-enterprises and watched them collapse overnight as a result of the COVID19 lockdown.

“Whilst the Scottish and UK governments have provided much-needed temporary support, many small enterprises and self-employed people in rural areas are struggling to survive. Our campaign to raise £3m is the first stage of a larger vision to build a fund of £10m so we can reach and support as many of Scotland’s rural businesses and micro-enterprises as possible, providing a vital lifeline for rural communities as they recover and rebuild.”

The crowd-funding campaign for the REDS Fund: Supporting Rural Scotland’s Future is open now and runs until 6 August. Applicants can enter here.

• Read all of our articles relating to COVID-19 here.