We’re committed to supporting small businesses. Here’s how.

Today is Small Business Saturday, inspired by a campaign to encourage Christmas shoppers to buy from small businesses and support their local economy.

Small businesses are often at the heart of our communities, employing over 887,000 workers across Scotland.

In government, the SNP is working hard to support small businesses all year round.

Here’s how.

  1. Over 100,000 businesses have saved more than £1 billion since 2009 through our Small Business Bonus Scheme. And from April next year, 100,000 premises will be removed from the burden of business rates entirely.

  2. While the UK government abolished regional development agencies in England, we’ve retained our enterprise agencies in Scotland. Spending on economic development in Scotland is also higher than the UK as a whole – to the tune of £76 per head.

  3. Last year the Scottish Government’s enterprise agency Business Gateway supported more than 9,000 businesses to start up. This is estimated to have created nearly 10,000 jobs, with an additional 11,000 businesses benefiting from growth and local expert support.

  4. We will invest £90 million over the next year to ensure we deliver broadband to 95 per cent of premises by the end of 2017. And, we’ll reach 100 per cent by 2021.

  5. The Scottish Growth Scheme will provide up to £500 million over three years of investment guarantees and some loans, and will be focussed on small and medium sized businesses who would otherwise be unable to grow because of a lack of investment.

  6. In 2016-17 we are investing over £55 million to support regeneration projects in disadvantaged areas, including investments to improve local infrastructure and revitalise town centres.