LOCAL MSP RECOGNISES IMPORTANCE OF SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS ALMOND VALLEY

LOCAL MSP RECOGNISES IMPORTANCE OF SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS ALMOND VALLEY

Angela Constance MSP recently met with Andrew McRae from the Federation of Small Business (FSB) in the Scottish Parliament to discuss the importance of small businesses to the West Lothian economy. There are more than 5,000 small businesses in West Lothian employing nearly 18,500 people producing a turnover of £1,828 million. 87% of West Lothian businesses are small with less than 50 employees and 2,834 businesses benefitted from the Scottish Government Small Business Bonus scheme during 2018/19. 

Speaking after the meeting Angela Constance MSP said 

"I was pleased to meet with the FSB as small businesses are the backbone of the West Lothian economy providing 30% of all local employment. Almost 3,000 local businesses receive rates relief from the small business bonus scheme and it was good to discuss some ideas for the future with the FSB. We need to continue to invest and regenerate our towns and deliver smarter solutions to deal with empty shop units. The FSB is also calling in the UK Government to instruct the biggest banks to roll out shared banking hubs in towns with no local banking facilities, a call I would fully support." 

ENDS

Photograph attached - Angela Constance, MSP for Almond Valley constituency and Andrew McRae, Director of Federation of Small Businesses

• Latest News