Open Letter: Back Scotland’s Businesses

Scottish Chambers of Commerce is the voice of over 12,500 businesses from every sector and corner of the country, comprising 50% of Scotland’s private sector workforce, and I write this letter asking you to Back Scotland’s Businesses.

Scotland’s business community has demonstrated the resilience, entrepreneurship and innovation to drive growth, attract investment and create jobs. To unlock this potential, Government must work with us to remove anti-growth policies and build a globally competitive economy.

There are serious challenges in every sector of the economy: businesses can’t source and find the skills and talent they need to deliver and grow; upfront costs are mounting up; new regulations are eroding our ability to stay in business keeping the staff we have, transport and digital infrastructure is lagging comparative nations, and business confidence needs to be restored if we are to invest for the future.

Scotland needs a credible economic growth plan which must be a top priority for every department in the Scottish Government. That can only be delivered if the next First Minister makes economic growth its driving mission and works in a real, honest and open partnership with the business community.

• Will economic growth be your number one priority and what is your delivery plan?

• Will you appoint a Minister for Economic Growth & Investment on day one of taking office?

• Will you commit to removing existing and future regulation which is increasing the cost of doing business?

• Will you finally reform Business Rates and ensure UK rates reliefs are equalised for Scotland’s hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors?

We need you, as the candidate for SNP Leader and the next First Minister to answer “yes” to the above questions to demonstrate to Scottish business, and our employees, that economic growth and investment is your top priority.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Elizabeth K Cameron CBE

Director/Chief Executive Scottish Chambers of Commerce