P&J hopefully not behind a paywall for the first 10 articles:
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/3073096/i-risk-making-my-children-homeless-scottish-government-accused-of-sexist-discrimination-over-support-for-beauty-businesses/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20Press%20and%20Journal%20-%20Coronavirus%202021-04-27&utm_term=Press%20and%20Journal%20-%20Newsletter
"“It just seems bizarre to me why they would single out a predominately female-led sector dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), many of which have been founded and grown by a female founder, like Pure.
“When I started the business in 2002, I had to go to 10 banks before one of them would loan me the money to start, and I had to agree to have a second charge put on my family home to secure the loan, which of course meant that if Pure at any point fails, I risk making my children homeless.
“It is sadly disappointing to know that in the 19 years since, not a lot seems to have changed and it is still just as hard for SME’s and in particular females, to access funding to start and grow their business.
“This is why the unfathomable decision to block funding makes no sense at all – these grants are a lifeline for our industry to survive and thrive.”
The difference in funding regime is estimated to affect around 3,750 businesses, employing nearly 30,000 – “the vast majority being women,” she said.
“Close contact services is the only business sector in Scotland that will not receive the same level of restart grants as in England and singling out one sector, particularly one dominated by women owners and operators is sexist discrimination.
“There can be no justification given that is acceptable.”
There are three tiers of support in England, calculated using the rateable value of properties, but a flat rate of £6,000 in Scotland for the close contact sector – despite equivalent funding being made available by Westminster.
It means small firms are £2,000 down on English counterparts, medium-sized premises will receive half of the £12,000 on offer down south and the top level, rated at £51,000 or more, are £12,000 down on the £18,000 they would receive elsewhere."