Business boost for small firms

Figures released last week show the Scottish Government’s Small Business Bonus Scheme has helped to support 4483 businesses in South Lanarkshire this year.

The number of firms benefitting from the policy has risen from 2694 in 2008/09 to 4483 in 2017/18.

And £11.3 million was spent across the local authority area to support local businesses this year.

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey, whose constituency covers Blantyre, said:“to have 4483 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.”

Across Scotland, the Small Business Bonus Scheme, introduced in 2008/09, paid out over £226 million in 2017-18, supporting over 103,000 local firms by reducing their rates liability and taking some firms out of business rates.

Ms Haughey added:“over the last decade, the SNP Scottish Government has taken strong action to support local businesses, while other parties have carped from the sidelines and chased cheap headlines rather than actually doing anything to support local jobs.

“The SNP has delivered £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.”