In summary
In Scotland, it’s up to our local councils to decide whether to introduce a Visitor Levy on overnight accommodation. In the north, I’m working on the FSB response to the Highland Council consultation, and it looks like Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, and Moray are not far behind. Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles could be appointing a consultant to investigate Levy feasibility across their areas. It’s vital that the voice of small business is heard.
Featured news and events
Aberdeen Bus Gates Face Crowdfunding Challenge
Traders in Aberdeen city centre are crowdfunding to mount a legal challenge against the local council’s decision to make controversial Bus Gates permanent.
Led by local businessman and clothing shop owner, Norman Esslemont, the campaign is aiming to raise £35,000 by mid-February.
In his latest update, Norman thanks everyone who has pitched in so far for the difference they are making. He asks supporters to keep the momentum going in order to challenge the Bus Gates and make Aberdeen City Centre accessible for everyone.
The Bus Gates are seen as one of the measures that have reduced footfall in the city centre, causing some business owners to break down in tears and others to react with anger and frustration over the Council’s policies.
Excellent work continues to be done by volunteers at Our Union Street, and Aberdeen Inspired plan a range of events throughout the year to attract people into the city centre, including SPECTRA in early February.
Moray In-Person Networking, with Business Gateway
FSB are working in partnership with Business Gateway Moray and Threaplands to bring you this free business networking event. Join us in the relaxed environment of the Threaplands Garden Room to meet like-minded small business owners from throughout the Moray business community.
This event is open to anyone, so you don't have to be an FSB member to book in. We'll have a couple of short presentations about Maximising FSB Membership and the services offered by Business Gateway Moray. Threaplands owner, Ben Laing, will also discuss his business journey so far, and we'll be joined by Jillian Watt, of Jillian Watt Coaching, for a short interactive session on "Coping with Stress for Success".
Browse all FSB Scotland events in February.
In other news
FSB Seeks New Scotland Chair
We are currently seeking nominations from FSB members in Scotland to become our new, Scotland Chair.
Our Scotland Chair promotes, champions and represents FSB to external stakeholders and audiences, lobbies on issues important to local businesses and supports activity and membership growth within the nation.
To find out more and request a copy of the full role description, please email [email protected] before Friday 14 February and register your interest.
Low Pay Commission meetings in Dundee
The Low Pay Commission is holding meetings with employers and workers in Dundee on Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 March. They want to hear first-hand evidence about the impact of the National Minimum Wage. Your evidence will help shape their recommendations to the Government on the future of the minimum wage.
They want to talk with you about:
- The economy and labour market in your area.
- The outlook for pay and employment in your business.
- How employers are affected by the rising minimum wage.
- Your views on the future of the minimum wage.
It’s important that the voice of small business is heard regarding the Minimum Wage. If you have views to share and are interested in taking part, please email [email protected] or call: 07341 098734.
FSB Small Business Focus
We’re delighted to work with The Courier in Tayside and the Press and Journal in the North to bring you a Small Business Focus feature every week– and this could be you!
This month, in the Press and Journal we’ve featured three FSB members:
- Duane Wood, Granite City Chiropractic
- Nicky Grant, Phoenic’s Consultancy
- Sophia Hanson, The Speaker’s Sanctury
And in the Courier, we've featured two FSB members:
- Jennifer Kaczmarski, Petit Yellow Velo
- Bill Mair, Business Wingman (Published in newspaper. Unavailable online.)
If you’re interested in being a Small Business Focus contributor, please get in touch.
Still in the news
Invest in Perth: Business Bulletin
The latest Invest in Perth Business Bulletin highlights research which has identified Perth & Kinross as the top performing region in the UK for business growth potential in 2025. The recognition by Growth Flag follows analysis of the expected distribution and value of business growth across the UK for the year ahead.
Invest in Perth also sat down with local family business, The Castlecroft Group, and their Managing Director, Jordan Black, to talk about the business's humble beginnings to celebrating 40 years in business in 2024.
They also chat with Caron Ironside, of GrowBiz Scotland, about the creation of Perthshire Artisans, a creative community of 36 highly skilled creatives, established in 2020.
There is positive funding news as Perth & Kinross Council's Futures for All - Employer Recruitment Incentive has so far allocated £361,000 of funding to 53 employers in Perth & Kinross.
There are a variety of upcoming business workshop opportunities from partners at Business Gateway Tayside and GrowBiz, as well as Meet the Buyer Tayside 2025 and Business Gateway's 2025 Transform Business Festival.
Record £187m tourism boost for Moray Speyside
Tourism in Moray Speyside is now worth a record £187m to the local economy after seeing visitor numbers leap by around a quarter. The latest industry data suggests a 25 per cent increase in visits between 2022 and 2023, bringing the total number of visitors to over 877,000 for the first time.
Gemma Cruickshank, CEO of Visit Moray Speyside, said:
“Over the past few years, our industry has faced unique challenges, from the global pandemic to the introduction of short-term let licenses. Despite these hurdles, our unity and collaboration have been a beacon of hope.
“Ensuring that the voice of Moray's tourism businesses is heard remains our priority. Through targeted efforts, we are working hard to ensure that the specific needs and challenges of our tourism sector are taken into account.
“As we look to the future, we remain committed to the prosperity of Moray. There will undoubtedly be more challenges ahead, but together, we have shown that our community is capable of growth. Through continued collaboration and a shared vision, we are confident that we will overcome any challenges that arise.”
More news and activity near you
Get in touch
Your FSB Development Manager for the North East Scotland is Mike Duncan. If you'd like more information about the topics above, or if you have news about this area that you'd like to share, please get in touch.
- email: [email protected]
- follow us on X: @FSB_MikeD
- follow us on Facebook: FSBScotland