In summary
Our popular events programme is gearing up towards the festive season with four in-person events taking place a month at the moment. Come along to our events in East Kilbride on Tuesday 19, Falkirk on Tuesday 3 December and Kilmarnock on Thursday 5 December to meet like-minded small business owners and self-employed people! Our Glasgow event on Thursday 28 November is a special one jointly hosted with Hashtag Events at Hampden Park – see you there!
Featured news and events
FSB Scotland: Employment allowance rise welcome from Chancellor in tax-raising Budget
The increase to the employment allowance for small businesses by a record amount is a very welcome move and we’re pleased the Chancellor has heard us loud and clear. The move to more than doubling it, from £5,000 to £10,500, will shield the smallest employers from the jobs tax, and is therefore a pro-jobs prioritisation in a tough Budget.
Larger small, and medium-sized, businesses will struggle with the rises on employer national insurance on top of the large costs from the Government’s employment law plans. We’ve been very clear in our warning of the difficulty SMEs will be confronted with in meeting all of these changes at once – and the potential impact on jobs, wages and prices.
Attention will now turn to the Scottish Government’s draft Budget on 4 December and in particular what it decides to do for our struggling retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, who in England are set to benefit from extended rates relief. FSB Scotland will continue to call for Scottish Ministers to pass on similar relief to these key sectors.
Read more on our budget response here.
If you have any views or opinions on the recent UK Government Budget or indeed the forthcoming Scottish Budget, please contact us using the details below or by e-mailing: [email protected]
FSB Scotland Networking at Hashtag Events, 28 November
With an amazing array of small business owners and decision makers don't miss out on this opportunity to pitch your business to an audience of likeminded entrepreneurial networkers looking for partners, contacts, connections, and new business relationships. Every delegate will get the chance to work network and give us your unique selling proposition at your local business show. As well as the networking session you'll also gain complimentary access to the business exhibition and a fantastic list of free expert-led workshops and find out more about how your FSB membership can be helping you at the moment from local FSB representatives. Book here.
In other news
Get up to £8,000 recruitment incentive through Glasgow Guarantee
Glasgow Guarantee is a highly regarded employment programme with a track record of supporting local businesses to recruit. If you are a Glasgow-based small businesses, the Glasgow Guarantee offers an Employer Recruitment Incentive that can be used to source a new member of staff or modern apprentice. For more information, click here.
Still in the news
Make sure your business benefits from the Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card
With the festive shopping season arriving very soon, small businesses across Glasgow are being urged to ensure they can benefit from a multi-million pound injection into the Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card. The gift cards can only be spent with local businesses and are a way by which people can show their support for those around them, locking money into the local economy. Over £9m already loaded onto the Glasgow Gift Card to date, it could provide a significant boost for your business. But in order to benefit from that boost – and those of the Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card, which can be bought by anyone – businesses must be registered to accept them. For more information, click here.
Free numeracy courses for businesses and employees in the Glasgow City Region
Through government-funded Multiply123, free courses will give you the confidence to apply basic numeracy skills to these everyday activities. Whether it’s at work, at home, getting around, socialising, helping your children, paying for something or organising your personal finances. For more information, click here or call on 0808 171 3030.
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Get in touch
Your FSB Development Manager for the West of Scotland is Hisashi Kuboyama. 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: @FSBHisashiK
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- connect with me on LinkedIn: Hisashi Kuboyama