Retailers have been expressing their disappointment at last week’s Budget.
Finance secretary Kate Forbes announced that rates relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will continue at 50% for the first three months of 2022-23, capped at £27,500 per ratepayer.
Small businesses with a rateable value of less than £15,000 on a Scottish high street will continue to pay no rates for the entirety of next year, irrespective of what sector they are in, through the Small Business Bonus Scheme.
However, retailers believe it has failed to help city centre retailers who are still experiencing slumps in footfall as workers continue to stay at home.
Ferhan Ashiq, the NFRN Scottish President, said: “While we thank the Scottish government for maintaining the Small Business Bonus Scheme, we call on the government to reassess its stance on retailers that are on the threshold.
“There are many city centre retailers who are still struggling because the Covid restrictions are hampering footfall numbers. These retailers need and do require immediate, temporary relief. Three months in the current challenging climate is too short.”
David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, added: “After two years of 100 percent business rates relief the Scottish Budget saw the end of significant support for Scotland’s retail industry. The underwhelming rates relief offered for 2022-23 is little more than a pale imitation of the UK Government’s own disappointing scheme; and will do little to help retailers who continue to be battered by the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. Consumers too saw little to help them despite the range of inflationary pressures already increasing and set to rise further next year. The conclusion one could draw from this Budget was that Scotland’s retailers will need to recover alone.”
