BUSINESS premises will be able to access a £25 million funding package to improve ventilation under a new Scottish Government initiative.
It comes in a bid to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission, with grants targeting a ‘wide range’ of high risk settings where people come into close proximity.
The likes of restaurants, bars and gyms will be eligible, with the scheme supporting work such as the installation of carbon dioxide monitors and altering windows and vents.
An expert advice group, chaired by Professor Tim Sharpe of the University of Strathclyde, unanimously recommended that businesses be supported to improve ventilation.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said, “As we step away from other mitigations, improved ventilation will play a significant role in reducing transmission indoors, support the sustained opening of society and contribute to our wider Covid recovery.
“Many of the businesses we are targeting have been closed for long periods and it is right that they are helped to undertake this work. We are allocating up to £25 million to assist small and medium-sized enterprises and expect to begin making payments in November.
“The package will initially target higher risk sectors where people spend significant amounts of time in close proximity to each other, such as hospitality and leisure, and will make indoor settings safer, especially through the winter months.”
