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Federation of Small Businesses to host online Q&A with Scottish Government's cabinet secretary for rural economy and tourism, Fergus Ewing; the event aims to give Highland businesses a chance to seek clarity over measures and support for the tourism and hospitality sectors as they adapt to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic


By Philip Murray

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Dunrobin Castle, North Coast 500, Scotland
Dunrobin Castle, North Coast 500, Scotland

BUSINESSES across the Highlands and Islands are being urged to put their questions to a leading Scottish Government minister in a special hour-long online Q&A.

Cabinet Secretary for rural economy and tourism, Fergus Ewing, will take part in a special online Q&A meeting organised by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The event will take place on Monday at 12.50pm.

And FSB chiefs believe it will be a timely chance to seek clarity over the future direction of the Covid-19 lockdown, and government support measures for the Highlands' fragile tourism and hospitality sector.

The FSB said research it had conducted showed that the Highlands & Islands and Argyll’s dependence on its tourism and hospitality sectors mean that the lockdown "has left this already fragile region more vulnerable economically than the rest of Scotland".

It added: "Unsurprisingly, as time passes so businesses from across the region are increasingly seeking clarity on a wide range of issues vital to their survival."

With Phase 2 of the unlocking process due shortly, the FSB believes that this is the perfect time for smaller businesses to question Mr Ewing – who is also MSP for Inverness & Nairn – on what the Scottish Government is doing to support businesses over the next year.

“We know how anxious businesses are becoming about their abilities to survive in this new world and, given that the virus is unpredictable, they clearly want as much clarity as possible so that they can plan their survival strategies once unlocking takes place," said Tanja Lister, the FSB’s Highlands & Islands Area Leader, and director of the Kylesku Hotel in Sutherland.

“In particular, they want to know when and how unlocking will take place, what they must do to comply with distancing protocols, how local communities will be persuaded that the time is right to unlock, and the nature of the Government-backed business support that will be put in place to carry the regional economy though to next Easter and beyond.

“Nobody should think that businesses can go from nought to 60 in a few days – it will take a long time for them to recover, and many will need ongoing support from governments, public agencies, other businesses and, very importantly, the general public, for many months to come.

“We know how heavily engaged Mr Ewing is in his vital role and we are delighted that he is giving up his time to take questions on Monday. This is the perfect time for him to meet Highlands & Islands businesses and we are looking forward to a very productive hour with him.”

Questions must be submitted in advance and the FSB will ask as many as of them as they can in the allotted time. Participants can also submit comments during the meeting using Zoom’s ‘Chat’ function.

The event is free and open to all businesses. Those wishing to find out more and register should look at the FSB Highlands & Islands Facebook page – @FSB.Highlands.Islands

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