In June 2022, the ASSC was asked to join a short-term group which was established following the Fraser of Allander’s report of the evaluation of the Small Business Bonus Scheme.
The remit of the group was to “inform advice to Scottish Ministers in respect of considering the response to the final report of the Evaluation of the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS), particularly in respect of the recommendation “that the Scottish Government begins to collect new information that will make a more robust assessment of the SBBS (and potentially other reliefs) possible in the future”.
The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) noted that 80% of their members receive SBBS relief and it would be hugely damaging to them if it were to be withdrawn. They were not aware of any members who had been surveyed for the evaluation work and were interested in how those businesses had been selected (Minutes of Meeting 30th June 2022).
On 23rd December, the Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth wrote to member of the group:
“I am pleased that feedback from the meetings indicated that the financial support which SBBS relief offers is benefiting many small businesses. I also note however that concerns were raised that collecting more information would place an additional burden on business which would not be welcomed at this time.”
The ASSC will continue to work with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders to support the sector in Scotland.
The short-term group included:
- Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers
- Federation of Small Businesses
- Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI)
- Booksellers Association (representing Scottish Retail Consortium)
- UKHospitality Scotland
- Scottish Grocers Federation
- National Hair and Beauty Federation
- Scottish Licensed Trade Association
- Association of Convenience Stores
- Scottish Property Federation
- COSLA
- Scottish Chambers of Commerce
- Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation
- Confederation of British Industry (Scotland)
- Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland