Regional gift card scheme can boost local businesses
A new gift card scheme aimed at ensuring shoppers stay local has been launched.
Now businesses in the region are being encouraged to sign up to the scheme.
The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card is being rolled out across Scotland’s 32 local authority areas with the creation of 32 unique regional gift cards, which can only be spent in businesses located in the region.
With the platform to purchase the regional gift cards launching later this year, businesses across Scotland are now being urged to undertake the quick, free sign-up process.
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey welcomed the initiative, and hopes it will provide a boost to the whole community.
She said: “The new Scotland Loves Local gift card programme is good news for businesses across Rutherglen and Cambuslang.
“Ideally, if many businesses sign up, it could help drive spending locally – helping secure jobs and build a more sustainable, vibrant future for communities and people.
“I encourage all businesses to apply to receive payments via the scheme.
“Signing up is quick, simple, and free – and will allow people across Rutherglen and Cambuslang to show their support for all that local businesses have done for them since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The scheme to support South Lanarkshire businesses is being delivered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership – the organisation spearheading the Scotland Loves Local Campaign.
They are working with local authorities to launch the regional gift card, with the first year of costs being met by the Scottish Government.
There are no registration costs for businesses, and signing up takes a matter of minutes. Payments are processed as part of the Mastercard network.
Scotland’s Town Partnership chief officer Phil Prentice added: “We have never valued local life, the people and businesses around us more.
The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card initiative embraces that.
“We can’t wait to see people loving local life by using their region’s gift card, whether that be while out shopping, meeting friends for a coffee or meal – or making a day of it and doing it all.
“This is an ideal way of supporting the brilliant businesses in our communities.
“These gift cards will be a remarkably powerful way of unlocking spending potential – and keeping that money in local communities for longer.
“The more businesses that sign up, the better the local experience will be.
“We have had tremendous interest and support so far.”
For more information about the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card, including how to sign up, visit https://lovelocal.scot/ giftcard/ fot details.