NSE and MCC Grant Update 8th March 2021

Sharing an update following my meeting today with Scot Gov, IRO the MCC and NSE grants.
I spent an hour and 20 minutes going through the issues you have experienced and sought information to give you a realistic expectation of the situation as it stands today.

As of this morning, 8th March according to Scot Gov.;-
17,000 applications have been received for the MCC and NSE grants combined.
5056 have been approved and payments made or payments are in the *system to be paid.
50% of successful applications were made from a mobile phone.
2900 applications have been rejected based on errors of various kinds. All applications which have failed based on error are being invited to reapply.
2000 of the 2900 rejected applicants invited to reapply have already reapplied and are counted in the headline figure of 17,000.
600 queries have been raised by ourselves, MSPs, local Councillors, and a number of trade organisations / bodies.
I have asked how many additional new queries have been logged via form that went live last week – this is to be confirmed.

I raised the issue about those of you whose situation falls entirely out of the scope of the system. Such Billy having a cash-based business during the period, Sean using solely PayPal during the period and Jackie whose computer is broken. Scot Gov have asked me to send over your application numbers to see how you can be assisted.
Scot Gov are very clear they will not be opening up a facility for anyone to send in supporting documents to Umi by post. However, they are looking into what they can do which might involve being asked to present information at a Business Gateway or LA – again I will let you know as soon as I here more.
So Billy, Sean and Jackie I will send over your info as soon as you let me have it! 

There are approximately 12,000 applications still waiting to go through the various process checks. Some of these are likely to be rejected and invited to reapply too.

There are 60 still only people processing the applications. – I have asked if these people are working overtime at weekends and extended working week hours, and I have also asked given the backlog if the team size could be increased;- this is to be confirmed.
I advised that the help line number many of you have tried is either not answered or you have just been told your message would be passed on and then you have heard nothing. I advised this seems to be inadequately staffed and is not helping anyone through the process or giving and reassurance in any way.
I have asked if on reapplication, should the application fail due to error, if the applicant will be called. I have been told no this will not happen.
I fought your corner and said that using a human error check and outbound call model to clarify information, could very often reduce the need for rejections and requests to reapply. There was no budging on this from their side.

The lead time at the moment is in and around 14 days – therefore someone who reapplied on 22nd Feb is likely to be told today /tomorrow at the earliest if the application has been successful. Though this can vary and can be faster if all online checks sail through. Some applications are having additional checks carried out.

In respect of accepted applicants being told the *payment will be in their account in 2 days;- the reality is 5 to 7 at the moment

Scot Gov assured me payments reach the bank from UMi within 48 hours of the notification being sent to the applicant. However, SG say payments are not always processed in speedy manner by the bank! I strongly queried this as it seems to be happening very frequently rather than an occasional occurrence and said I would collect data from you about this.
If you have not had the grant payment into your account within the 48hrs / 2 days please contact your bank and ask them if it has been received and is awaiting crediting to your account – ask your bank to explain their process for this. IE If not received yet – ask if when received, will payment immediately be credited to your account.
I strongly suspect that it is not the banks causing the delay but need your data to prove that! 

Many applications have failed due to errors.
The largest proportion of rejects have come from those who instead of writing their name when asked for account name have written something like NAT WEST Flex account.
Some have been rejected because the account number or sort code entered were incorrect.
Some have been rejected because the account name given and bank account details do not match.

The UMi system is wanting to confirm the person, at their home address and the confirm the bank account corresponds to that name at that address.
I have asked what happens if a person uses their accountant’s address or an office for all business correspondence including banking and the application is rejected because of mismatch against checking criteria – this is to be confirmed

For those have no website or business social media account, SG assure they are looking at a range of databases looking a digital footprints rather than just an online presence. For those of you who have no online presence and feel sure that no digital footprint will be found I will refer your application numbers too. This way we can see how robust the footprint check is – or isn’t!

I am meeting with Scot Gov again this Thursday at 3pm. In the interim they will send me an update and I will refer cases as mentioned above.