A Perthshire businessman who feels he was snubbed for thousands of pounds of Covid funding says he has less than a week to save his business.
Stuart Robb set up Toast to Go in Alyth in 2019 and says the pandemic greatly affected his trade.
After the country went into lockdown in March 2020, he received funding from Perth and Kinross Council that kept the business afloat.
However late last year the rise of the Omicron variant of Covid saw restrictions return.
Mr Robb said social distancing inside his Market Square premises was not possible, so he was unable to trade.
The Scottish Government announced a package of funding would be available to businesses affected, to be allocated by local councils.
Unable to open, but not eligible for funding
However, Mr Robb says he was snubbed for that funding by Perth and Kinross Council.
He expected to be awarded about £6,000.
He moved premises in October last year and was unable to open his new one before the Covid restrictions came into force.
Mr Robb said: “We got previous grants and we expected to get the Omicron grant in December.
“I told the council in October that we’d changed names from Alyth Bridge Bistro and moved premises.
“Our shop couldn’t cope with social distancing, so we just couldn’t open.
“I found the guidance and it says if you are upgrading your shop and are still a registered company, you are still trading.
“I think they got it wrong in the first place and just refused to admit that.”
Not being awarded the grant has left Mr Robb with debts. He’s used his savings to keep the business running.
“I had to pay staff, rent, electricity and the whole point of the Omicron grant was to cover this.
“Now we’ve got nothing left. I’ve been chasing them for months.”
‘The money would totally help us out’
But with customers not returning in their same numbers post-Covid, he’s close to shutting the business, which has 10 staff including his girlfriend Kimberley.
“It’s not making enough to cover the costs every week. Our sales are right down.
“I’ve had to reduce the staff’s hours because it’s just not viable.
“This money that I think I’m due would totally help us out.”
A letter from David Littlejohn, head of planning and development at Perth and Kinross Council says Mr Robb’s business does not meet the criteria to be awarded the grant.
He wrote: “The Scottish Government confirmed your business must have been actively trading and serving customers to qualify for the fund.
“I appreciate you were paying rent and utilities on the premises from October 2021, however you were unable to officially open the business to trade.”
A week to save the business
Mr Robb, 36, thinks he’ll have to shut the business within the week if a solution is not found.
“I was calling it quits this week,” he said.
“My girlfriend talked me round, but I think we’ve got about a week left.
“I don’t want to have to put people out of jobs. If we close, I lose the business and my girlfriend loses her job.”
The dad-of-three added: “I have been chasing this for months. It’s so stressful.”
‘We understand how difficult pandemic has been’
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council confirmed Toast to Go was not eligible for the grant.
A statement said: “We understand how difficult the pandemic has been for many businesses.
“We are sorry that Toast to Go was unfortunately not eligible for funding.
“All Covid-19 business support funding administered by the council has been delivered on behalf of the Scottish Government in line with all their Covid related grant guidance and criteria.”
It said further advice was sought by the Scottish Government which confirmed the business does not qualify.
The spokesperson added: “In an effort to assist Mr Robb where we could, we also provided advice on possible alternative funding and services.”
Conversation