The Scottish Authorities’s choice to not introduce a enterprise charges aid scheme is being felt in plenty of venue closures in Scotland.
Within the Scottish Finances final yr, the Authorities in Holyrood selected for the second yr to not cross on Barnett consequentials from the 75% price aid in England to Scottish companies.
That is regardless of intensive and sustained illustration to Scottish Ministers, from each UKHospitality and our members.
UKHospitality Scotland Government Director Leon Thompson mentioned: “These latest closures display the big financial challenges going through hospitality companies, that are all the time extra acutely felt through the quiet early months of the yr.
“Persistent rising prices over the previous two years have already dented enterprise confidence significantly and this has solely been exacerbated by the Scottish Authorities’s surprising choice to not introduce a enterprise charges aid scheme.
The hope of Authorities help was one of many final lifelines many venues had left and that was brutally ignored in final yr’s Finances.
‘Tip of the iceberg’
“Closures this early in January are simply the tip of the iceberg and I really worry that we are going to see extra to come back, as venues battle to make ends meet.
“Given hospitality’s means to drive financial progress, create jobs and help communities, it’s a nice disgrace that the Scottish Authorities has not taken the choice to help the sector. Sadly, these closures are the tip outcome.
I might urge it to rethink its choice and introduce a enterprise charges aid scheme.
“This might supply much-needed help for companies and guarantee Scottish companies are usually not working at a aggressive drawback to England and Wales.”
