Stirling Council and partners have set up a working group to develop an emergency economic action plan that is designed to safeguard as many of Stirling’s businesses as possible while the Covid-19 crisis continues.
Working in collaboration with the Council as part of the working group are STEP, Business Gateway, Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce, The Federation of Small Businesses, Go Forth Stirling, VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise and Stirling University Innovation Park.
Phone, email and webpage advice
Among the vital first steps to be taken include:
- Establishing http://www.investinstirling.com/investor-support/corona-virus-advice as the main web portal where Stirling-based businesses can get accurate and up to date advice on the support available to them.
- Setting up a business support hotline and dedicated e-mail address that will be staffed and managed by experienced economic development and business support staff from Stirling Council and STEP.
The hotline (01786 498496) and e-mail account (investinstirling@stirling.gov.uk) will go live this Monday, 23rd March, with the hotline manned from 8am until 8pm, Monday to Friday, and from 10am – 2pm on Saturday. All emails will be responded to within 24 hours.
A weekly update will also go out from the partnership to all businesses in Stirling providing information on all existing and emerging support measures available.
Support for Stirling businesses
Convenor of Stirling Council’s Finance and Economy Committee, Councillor Margaret Brisley, said: “There have been announcements from both the Scottish and UK Governments on support measures for businesses during this period and we are currently working with them to fully understand exactly how the funding support can be accessed by our businesses here in Stirling.
“Once we have the full picture on these interventions from national government we will communicate this to all businesses and our local partnership will look at what additional support measures we can put in place.”
The new working group are already working on several additional projects which are designed to support local businesses and their employees during this time, which will be announced over the coming days.
Stirling Council Senior Manager for Economic Development and Communities, Stuart Oliver, added: “Please rest assured that Stirling Council and our partners are fully aware of the huge impact this is having on local industry and we will do everything we can as a partnership to support your business and employees during this difficult time.”
For information on the Scottish Government support available for businesses please see here.
For information on the UK Government support available for businesses please see here.