Business support during Coronavirus crisis

Council services are working to engage proactively with our core critical providers, including care services and goods suppliers, with the key aim to protect, retain and support critical service provisions both during and once recovery phase of COVID-19 is implemented.

We are also working proactively with our core partners such as enjoyleisure to identify options to ensure contractual commitments can continue to be met and to protect this important community-focused business for the future.

The council will work to ensure that payments are made to suppliers as quickly as practically possible. We will not pursue any new recovery actions relating to outstanding debt during this current period.

Flexibility will be provided to any commercial property where East Lothian Council is the landlord to offer payment holidays of up to six months with the option of repaying the rent in full over a maximum of an 18 month period. Requests for business to receive a payment holiday must be made directly to the council

East Lothian Investments is promoting a new Business Interruption Loan which is available to existing businesses that have been trading for two years.  More details can be found on the East Lothian Investments Ltd website.

Councillor John McMillan, Council spokesperson for Economic Development and Tourism, said: “We have a diverse business community in East Lothian and we want to retain these valued organisations for the future of our communities so it’s very important that we can offer what support we can during this current crisis. Any business owners worried about the impact of Coronavirus on their finances should visit the council website where they can access frequently updated details of council and national support available and there are links there on how best to contact us for advice. We will continue to explore ways in which we can provide support to business, whether they are a supplier to the council or a standalone local business.”