Your Priorities Raised with Scotland’s Business Minister
Ahead of the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, BID for Galashiels joined the Federation of Small Businesses for a meeting with Minister for Business and Fair Work, Tom Arthur MSP.
The meeting provided an important opportunity to bring the experiences of Galashiels businesses directly to the Minister, discussing the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses and what is needed to give them greater confidence to invest, grow and create jobs.
With a strong independent business community in Galashiels, it’s important that the realities facing businesses here are part of the wider conversation. We were able to share a local perspective on the pressures affecting our levy-payers, while hearing about the issues being raised by small businesses across Scotland.
Alongside delivering projects and activity here in Galashiels, representing your interests is an important part of the BID’s role. By working with organisations such as the Federation of Small Businesses, we can help make sure your views reach the people shaping Scotland’s business environment.
We’ll continue to seek opportunities to give Galashiels businesses a voice where it matters.
Is there somewhere to see the summary of the conversation about Galashiels in particular?
Things like VAT, energy costs and business rates are killing us as a small family business and making it hard to provide quality serviced accommodation that makes any profit. Government needs to help or there will be nowhere to go but to close the doors and lose further options to stay over in the town. We also need government help in bringing more people by train to the town and borders in general. Was there any discussion about these things? Thanks
Mark