Brown in business survey call

A Rutherglen councillor is calling for a multi-agency survey of South Lanarkshire businesses to assess the support they need to help them adapt to the new, post-coronavirus economic landscape. Rutherglen South Councillor and South Lanarkshire Liberal Democrate Group leader Robert Brown says there’s a pressing need for a bold economic recovery plan to help local businesses recover from the effects of the lockdown. He said:“The lockdown has devastated local businesses and many people have either been furloughed or left without a job. Not surprisingly, we learn that the economy has shrunk by over 20 per cent in April alone. It will pick up a bit as the lockdown eases but economists suggest it could be several years at least before there is a real recovery. “The council, Scottish Enterprise, Clyde Gateway, universities, local colleges and other partners must do a full survey of local business to get a full picture of what firms are doing – and importantly what they are capable of doing – and what training, research and innovation support is needed so that South Lanarkshire businesses can change to meet the new challenges and opportunities. “The recovery period must also have big resources to invest in a brighter future. We will need a lot of flexibility to be able to fund and support that vital economic recovery. “I would like to see an expert panel of entrepreneurs, change managers, academics and others brought together to‘think out of the box,’ brainstorm the issues and help identify and seize the new opportunities. It is absolutely vital that all the ideas, resources, political and economic clout and entrepreneurial skill are focused on getting South Lanarkshire going.”