Whoever kinds the following Scottish authorities ought to give a “contemporary focus” to supporting Scotland’s 350,000+ small companies, the Federation of Small Companies (FSB) has stated.
In its manifesto forward of the the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary elections, FSB Scotland warned the nation’s small companies generate £98 billion in annual turnover however proceed to face rising prices and a rising tax and regulatory burden.
Amongst its calls for are sustaining the “lifeline” small enterprise bonus scheme (SBBS) for enterprise charges.
Following the newest non-domestic charges revaluation, some small companies face will increase of their rateable values of as much as 400%. FSB Scotland warned that eligibility thresholds for the SBBS have to be “urgently revisited” or it’ll fail to guard the small companies that want it.
FSB Scotland has additionally urged the following authorities to mandate correct enterprise and regulatory influence assessments (BRIAs) for all new insurance policies and rules. The organisation’s analysis reveals that 14% of small companies spend greater than a full working day every week on regulatory paperwork.
Different asks are procurement reforms to take away limitations to small corporations bidding for a share of the greater than £16 billion in public contracts awarded in Scotland annually, new employer incentives for apprenticeships and elevated funding for Enterprise Gateway help providers.
Man Hinks, chair of FSB Scotland, stated:
“Small companies should not asking for particular remedy – they’re asking for a system that recognises their collective scale and contribution, in addition to the truth of buying and selling on Scotland’s excessive streets. Enterprise charges reform, for instance, is now unavoidable if we need to shield jobs, city centres and native economies.
“Small companies house owners are the individuals who make Scotland work, creating native jobs and driving financial progress. But, such are the pressures on them, a 3rd count on their enterprise to shrink or shut within the subsequent 12 months. That’s one thing that ought to fear us all.
“What we’re calling for is a renewed concentrate on what these on a regular basis companies must thrive – and for reforms to make sure they will proceed to speculate, make use of and serve their communities.
”We’re not speaking about faceless firm administrators or absentee house owners. Small enterprise house owners are among the many hardest working individuals within the nation. They’re individuals we might all recognise – the mechanic who fixes your automotive, the childminder who takes care of your kids, the florist and shoe repairer in your native excessive avenue.”
