Isle of Bute
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
Bute Businesses Driving Change
BID NEWS
Bute Business Improvement District and Project Play Park get Council Thumbs Up for a New Park Development
Financial support and grants for businesses
Argyll and Bute Council has a range of schemes providing financial assistance for businesses based in Argyll and Bute.
Business Gateway Local Growth Accelerator Programme
The programme includes fully funded specialist advice on a range of topics and 50% grant funding up to £5,000 to support your growth or COVID recovery plans. Find out more at Business Gateway Local Growth Accelerator Programme (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
Small Business Development Grant 2022
Grant funding to help your micro or small business based in Argyll and Bute to develop. Grants of 75% of costs up up to £3,000 are available. Find out more about the Small Business Development Grant.
Business Start-Up Grant 2022
Grant funding to help your new business to start up and establish in Argyll and Bute. Grants of up to £3,000 are available, phased across three payments. Find out more about the Business Start-Up Grant.
Help with business rates
There are a number of relief schemes available which you may be eligible for - find out more details and apply at Help with business rates (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
Find Business Support Scotland
To find out about other support from across Scotland’s public sector, visit Find business support in Scotland - Find Business Support. You can see your options for funding, advice, help and more all in a single location and sign up for email alerts on the latest updates.
The Isle of Bute BID is retaining the current level levy charges for the remaining period of the BID term (four years). Therefore, NO increase in levy charges.
Download the Isle of Bute BID Annual Report
Bute Business Improvement District and Project Play Park get Council Thumbs Up for a New Park Development
The Bute Business Improvement District (BID) and Project Play Park together have successfully secured £44,000 via Crown Estate Funding from Argyll and Bute Council. These monies have been allocated to Children’s Corner in Rothesay, and will create a fun filled, inclusive and locomotive themed family play area that everyone can enjoy. Project Play Park and the BID had this area designed and costed over a year ago and a request for funds has been in the works and provided to the Council since then. The BID Board thanks John Weir and Nicola Jones of Project Playpark and give thanks to the Argyll and Bute Council who gave this project full cross-party support. Thanks also to our local Bute Councilors who gave approval for the fund spend. Further details of how the area will look and when the works will start are to be announced soon. Exciting times ahead for the Bute community and of course, our many island visitors!
Financial support and grants for businesses
Argyll and Bute Council has a range of schemes providing financial assistance for businesses based in Argyll and Bute.
Business Gateway Local Growth Accelerator Programme
The programme includes fully funded specialist advice on a range of topics and 50% grant funding up to £5,000 to support your growth or COVID recovery plans. Find out more at Business Gateway Local Growth Accelerator Programme (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
Small Business Development Grant 2022
Grant funding to help your micro or small business based in Argyll and Bute to develop. Grants of 75% of costs up up to £3,000 are available. Find out more about the Small Business Development Grant.
Business Start-Up Grant 2022
Grant funding to help your new business to start up and establish in Argyll and Bute. Grants of up to £3,000 are available, phased across three payments. Find out more about the Business Start-Up Grant.
Help with business rates
There are a number of relief schemes available which you may be eligible for - find out more details and apply at Help with business rates (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
Find Business Support Scotland
To find out about other support from across Scotland’s public sector, visit Find business support in Scotland - Find Business Support. You can see your options for funding, advice, help and more all in a single location and sign up for email alerts on the latest updates.
SHOP FRONTAGE BUSINESS GRANTS
The Isle of Bute BID board are delighted to launch a small business grant scheme available to Bute BID Levy payers. The scheme is to assist small businesses who would like to enhance primarily shop front or signage. The grant is to a maximum of £750. Application forms can be found under BID Info / Forms section of this website. John Glen, Bute BID Chairman said ‘the funds have become available as a result of underspend within the operation of cost budget. This is due to staff joining later than anticipated, combined with the funds saved whilst awaiting to secure an office’.
ROTHESAY FOUNTAIN
Many discussions have taken place over the last few months between the BID Manager and a Senior Officer from the Argyll and Bute Council to ensure that the Rothesay Fountain will be repaired and operational soon. It has been agreed that the cost of the repairs will be met by the Argyll and Bute Council.
OPERATION CLEAN UP
We are pleased to announce that the street scene programme of cleaning the grot spots and painting of the street flower boxes will commence this week (May 23rd). This programme has been a long time starting due to negotiations and processing the legal aspects of the work to be undertaken along with the Argyll and Bute Council. A licence agreement has now been entered into with the Council which clearly states the functions the BID will undertake and those which will remain the Council’s responsibility.
ALFRESCO SEATING 2022
Working with Argyll & Bute Council and specific government allocated funds, the Bute BID had managed to create an alfresco seating area in Rothesay town centre and Guildford Square in 2020. The Bute BID are delighted to announce that the appropriate council permissions and insurances are back in place for this to continue in 2022! Open from 10am 'til 6pm, 7 days a week weather dependant!
AITC COLLABORATION
What is the Argyll and the Isles Tourism Cooperative (AITC)?
The AITC is the strategic destination marketing and management organisation for the entire Argyll & Bute region on the West Coast of Scotland and is managed through their website, WILD ABOUT ARGYLL.
The Bute BID are now working in partnership with the AITC to market and showcase Bute to guests and visitors alike. The reach of this organisation is both local and international as can be collated by their website reach.
We have tasked the AITC to take on some of the roles that Visit Bute was doing for the island, including marketing Bute within their social media and linking Bute up to their main website. Bute will get more coverage now it has this stronger voice and partnership with this national tourism organisation. We look forward to working with AITC to showcase all the great things that Bute has to offer. This is an exciting time for Bute to be seen and marketed with the rest of Argyll and the Isles.
BID OFFICE
Those who have ever been involved in community events understands the time, detail and manpower it takes to get even the smallest activity or event off the ground. The Bute BID has a number of exciting projects in the pipeline for this year, however until the appropriate permissions, and insurances are firmly in place the events calendar for BID will be announced as soon as we can!
Check out Bute BID facebook for updates and announcements. We think you are definitely going to like them.