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The Scottish Government’s Business Ventilation Fund will help businesses improve ventilation and air quality on their premises to help reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission.

The fund will allow businesses to claim back costs to improve ventilation of up to £2500.

Support will target high-risk settings where people come into close proximity, such as hospitality and leisure sectors.

To be eligible for funding, businesses must:

• be a small or medium-sized enterprise
• be in an eligible sector
• have physical premises
• pay non-domestic rates

It is free to apply for the fund. Businesses will be required to pay for the costs of improvements (with pre-approval) and claim the costs back once the work is complete (up to a maximum of £2500).

If your business is in an eligible sector, you can start the application process. Next steps:

• complete an online self-assessment form to receive advice on whether your business requires support to improve ventilation
• if eligible for support, you will be asked to provide further details about your business and the remedial work you propose to undertake to improve ventilation
• if the proposed work is approved, you can submit receipts for work carried out and a payment of up to £2,500 will be made

Businesses that have already completed improvements to their ventilation prior to the fund opening will not be eligible to claim costs back. However, they may still be eligible for additional improvements depending on what the prior improvements involved.

Applications will be accepted until Thursday 31 March 2022 or until the fund runs out, whichever comes first.

Visit the Scottish Government website to read the full guidance and complete the self-assessment form.