Business plea to Moray's next MP

MORAY’S next MP must work to secure investment to revive town centres, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The FSB has made the case for new funding for towns and high streets through the UK Towns Fund after the launch of its manifesto last week.

The small business campaign group says Scotland’s towns have faced more than 400 closures since the start of 2016.

Owner of Forres-based Pearl’s Pet Care and FSB national councillor Pearl Hamilton said: "Over the last few years, Moray has been hit hard with a number of local banks and retailers closing, and there’s no end in sight as many big-name brands continue to announce restructuring programmes.

"We have a strong small business base in Moray with 94 per cent of registered business (3,350), small or medium-sized – delivering between them more than 60 per cent of the area’s private sector jobs.

"That’s why we need to see the next UK Government allocate a fair share of the £3.6 billion Towns Fund to Scotland. This significant investment would allow us to find new uses for empty properties and help us install low-carbon infrastructure, like charging stations, in the centre of our local places."

The FSB’s manifesto also urges the next UK Government to close the mobile coverage gap between Scotland and England. In late October, UK ministers announced a new deal with mobile operators, and the FSB insists it must be delivered.

Mrs Hamilton added: "Patchy mobile coverage holds backs our businesses as well as making many local places less attractive to visitors and potential residents alike. For years, decision-makers have failed to address this issue – the next UK Government must not."

The FSB manifesto also urges MPs to deliver an immigration system that meets the needs of local businesses.

Mrs Hamilton said: "Our next batch of MPs will likely need to make a number of important choices about the structure of a UK future immigration system.

"At every turn, we’re urging them to push for a regime that recognises Scotland’s demographic challenges and is user-friendly and affordable for smaller business."

Research published by the FSB and the University of Strathclyde this year showed that immigrant entrepreneurs make a £13 billion annual contribution to Scotland’s economy and support more than 107,000 jobs.

And according to FSB research, one in four small employers in Scotland (26%) have at least one employee from an EU country.

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