Businesses sign up

Nearly 5,000 small businesses across South Lanarkshire have benefited from a government bonus scheme this year.

New figures show that 4,483 businesses in the region have signed up to the Scottish Government’s small business bonus scheme.

Across Scotland, the scheme paid out over £226 million in 2017/18, supporting over 103,000 firms by reducing their rates liability and taking some firms out of business rates altogether.

Throughout South Lanarkshire, the number of firms benefitting has risen from 2,694 in 2008 to 4,483 in 2017/18, with £11.3m being spent across the local authority area to support local businesses this year.

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey welcomed the figures, saying: “To have 4,483 businesses in South Lanarkshire and over 103,000 across Scotland benefitting from this policy is good for jobs and good for communities – helping to keep more money in our neighbourhoods and boosting our high streets.

“The SNP has delivered a staggering £73.3 million of rates relief across South Lanarkshire since 2008, showing we are the only party taking the necessary action to help our local firms.”