Council urged to aid firms

Group manifesto

A business group has called on North Lanarkshire Council to encourage startup companies and make the region one of Scotland’s entrepreneurial hotspots.

Launching its manifesto ahead of the May 4 council polls, the Federation of Small Businesses ( FSB) believes North Lanarkshire’s incoming administration must pledge to increase business start-up figures.

Statistics collated by the Improvement Service North Lana rk s h i re’s self-employment rate, an indicator of entrepreneurialism, is 5.4 per cent – lower than the national average.

Tony Higgins, chairman of FSB in Lanarkshire, said: “The council budget is under significant pressure. That’s why it is important that they squeeze every drop of value out of their spending power by targeting it on their local economy.

“North Lanarkshire’s start- up figures and selfemployment rate are lower than Scotland’s average, so it is important for the council to look at the barriers to establish a business in the area.

“A l s o to boost business activity and ent re p re n e u r i a l i s m , the council should offer disused council town centre premises for free to local start- up businesses, popup operators or the selfemployed.”

FSB’s call to drive small business growth is a key recommendation from their 2017 Scottish local government election manifesto and the group is also pressing for action on local roads.