The Scottish Government is investing £250,000 to enable the Scotland Loves Local (SLL) gift cards to operate digitally.
The gift cards, which were launched by Scottish Government to help Scotland’s towns and neighbourhoods recover from the pandemic through support for local economies, can be loaded with credit and used in participating shops and businesses within users’ local council area.
By going digital, the cards can be used by businesses to reward loyal customers and encourage repeat custom. The new system may also be made compatible with transport providers’ ticketing systems, enabling relatives or businesses to gift train and bus fares into town centres for shopping trips.
Cards are currently used by more than 20 councils, including six which have used them to distribute more than £13m of Scottish Government Coronavirus (Covid-19) economic recovery funding to lower income households.
In addition, 6,659 businesses have registered to accept gift cards, of those, 75% are independent or franchised businesses.
Community Wealth Minister Tom Arthur said: “Going digital is an important step forward for the SLL gift card. The scheme has already delivered millions of pounds of extra spending to help businesses recover from the pandemic and by increasing their useability I am sure even more people will be encouraged to shop locally.
“The cards have made a real difference in places like Glasgow, where thousands of cards have been used to access Scottish Government funding for economic recovery.
“They represent a step towards the creation of local currencies to be invested and retained within areas. Digitalisation will accelerate that process and help support fairer and more prosperous local economies.”
Kimberley Guthrie, Interim Chief Officer at Scotland’s Towns Partnership that delivers the SLL initiative, added: “Continued support from the Scottish Government allows businesses and communities to innovate, invest and embrace opportunity, building better, stronger places.”
