Support during COVID-19
The funding approved by HIE means that the North Uist based firm can keep all nine members of staff in employment as it plans to reopen in August.
Langass Lodge was built in the 1880s as a sporting lodge and with its expansive views over Loch Eport, Eval and the surrounding hills, it evolved to become a great base for exploring the islands.
Husband and wife Amanda and Niall Gower took on the lease of the six-bedroom lodge in 1995 and expanded the restaurant kitchen, dining area and rooms over the years to help build on the lodge’s excellent reputation for hospitality and local food.
It attracts a wealth of customers from around the world including birdwatchers, wildlife tourists and fishing guests with many making return visits.
The company won a gold Green Tourism Award in 2007 for showing commitment towards caring for the environment and sustainable tourism.
The COVID-19 restrictions meant the company had to close the hotel and furlough some of its workforce.
The grant will allow Amanda and Niall to retain staff, restock and organise COVID-19 related safety measures before reopening. It also enables the company to continue to pay deposits paid by guests who cancelled reservations that couldn’t go ahead due to government restrictions during the pandemic.
The Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund was managed by Scotland’s three enterprise agencies on behalf of Scottish Government. There was a high demand for the fund which received more than 5,000 applications Scotland-wide. Grants totalling almost £20m have been approved by HIE to 372 businesses across the Highlands and Islands.
A full list of companies to be awarded a grant as part of this funding programmes has now been published on the Scottish Enterprise website.
