The latest figures show that grants were given to 1341 businesses, to the value of £14.8m, within the past week alone.

A key focus for the dedicated Highland Council team, established to manage the COVID-19 Business Grant scheme, has been to reduce the significant backlog of applications received.

The self-catering applications backlog has now been addressed and all applications submitted are now being processed as they are received.

Allan Maguire, Highland Council’s head of development and regeneration, said: “Unfortunately, over 70% of all Business Grant applications received are incomplete.

“Over 600 incomplete applications have been worked on over the past week, all information has now been secured from businesses, which will allow the applications to be processed and grants paid. However, this extra work has led to inevitable delays and has hampered early payment of grants. Please follow the guidance on the website.”

He added: “Efforts will continue in the coming week to reduce the application backlog and ensure that application forms which are submitted and complete are processed as quickly as possible.”

The council has said that it is keenly aware that the COVID-19 crisis has sadly seen an unprecedented rise in scams across the whole of the UK. Therefore, the council has asked that that businesses stay alert to such scams and only respond to any correspondence in relation to business grants if it is from an official Highland Council email address, which has full contact details at the footer of the email.

On Thursday 30 April, the Highland Council will be launching the Self Employed Hardship Fund and inviting applications from eligible individuals.

The council will be delivering this grant scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government and final details are currently being worked on and agreed.

The council is looking to have an online form developed to help self-employed people to apply and secure the grant as quickly as possible.

Further details will be published this week.

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