Don’t leave small business owners behind
I am a guest house owner in Edinburgh who would like reassurance that small business owners such as myself will not be left behind in the economic relief being provided due to the pandemic.
Since the implementation of the tiers on October 9, Edinburgh has been under restrictions limiting travel in and out of the health board area. This has effectively meant that we have been forced to close as there is no possibility of people travelling to the city and requiring accommodation. In fact, even when restrictions were eased over the summer last year guest house owners such as myself who normally live in close proximity and share common areas with guests have been forced to choose between the safety of our families, including those who are vulnerable, and the survival of our business.
It is a dilemma being repeated on a national scale, with economic and health concerns vying for priority – however, where others are receiving significant financial support allowing them to continue to pay their bills and keep safe, we are being unsupported despite being longstanding, significant tax payers. We were initially refused any support, with our application for the business closure fund receiving a reply saying guest houses are not eligible, but on appeal recently received £2,000. We remain ineligible for the strategic framework business fund which is available to larger hotels as a topup grant due to being a small business. However, where larger hotels have been able to furlough their staff, families like my own who run businesses together are uniquely vulnerable.
We continue to have to pay many of the overheads associated with the business, including the significant tax bills associated with our pre-pandemic income, and the costs of upkeep of a large building which still has to be heated and maintained. Even as restrictions are eased, we will face tough choices between keeping our home a safe place for vulnerable members of our family or having an income. This is a problem not faced by the larger businesses; nonetheless we have been excluded from the Scottish Government’s support in blatant favour of large hotels. This leaves us with an income which cannot provide basic essentials.
My question is – why has the Scottish government chosen to discriminate against B&BS and guest houses in this way, and what actions are being taken to ensure families such as mine can afford to enjoy the safety in our home that other citizens are being offered?
M YAMIN Minto Guest House Minto Street, Edinburgh