The Last Word Comment
Time to tackle unseen damage
Scottish business’ mental health crisis has been revealed by a new survey
Andrew McRae Policy chair, Federation of Small Businesses Scotland
Two-fifths of business owners say they are worried about their mental health, a survey of 1200 Scottish entrepreneurs has found. More than half of the respondents (55%)
to our poll said that they had concerns about the survival of their business, while slightly less than half (46%) were worried about keeping up-to-date with changing government regulations. About a third of business owners (30%)
said that repaying debt weighed on their mind, while just under half (44%) are worried about their pay or the income of their family. We are urging those that work for
themselves in Scotland to do what they can to look after their mental wellbeing during the coronavirus crisis. We also want to see the Scottish government pilot a new support service specifically for small business owners and the self-employed to prevent a mental health crisis.
Toll Speak to any group of people in business in Scotland and you will find that the last 12 months has taken a toll on their collective mental health. It is little wonder. They have faced the same life challenges
as the rest of the population, with the added pressure of taking endless high-stakes decisions about the future of their business. While we want to see governments in
Edinburgh and London take better care of the small business community, we have to take care of each other. That means more people in business seeking out help for themselves or their staff. The survey, conducted between 13-18
January, shows that only one in three Scottish businesses (32%) are trading
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broadly as normal, with a similar proportion either closed voluntarily or by law (35%), and about a third open but in a restricted manner (33%). Two-thirds of businesses (64%) report
that either they are struggling to stay afloat or that sales and profits are under sustained pressure. It is vital that policymakers at Holyrood
and Westminster put small business survival and recovery at the top of their agenda. In a letter to Finance Secretary Kate
We are urging those that work for themselves in Scotland to do what they can to look after their mental wellbeing during the coronavirus crisis. We also want to see the Scottish government pilot a new support service specifically for small business owners and the self-employed to prevent a mental health crisis
Forbes ahead of the Scottish government budget, we urged ministers to commit to maintain coronavirus-related rate reliefs for smaller firms for at least the next two financial years. We also want government, councils, regulators, and agencies to reduce, freeze or scrap charges and fees until smaller firms get back on their feet. In addition, we would make the case for
additional grant funding to be provided to help smaller firms use digital technologies to adapt to the current crisis.
Opportunity The Scottish government budget in Edinburgh is an opportunity for ministers to put small business survival and recovery at the top of their agenda. With the widespread roll-out of the vaccine, it would be a tragedy if insufficient support saw thousands of small businesses fall at the final hurdle. That means taking long-term action to
keep overheads as low as possible for firms facing ongoing trading restrictions and a long recovery. It means getting the grant system working as it should, and channeling funding into encouraging firms to innovate out of this crisis. CCR
February 2021
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