DAVID RICHARDSON: What is life like for our small Highland businesses now?
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Ross-shire’s high streets are fundamental to the wellbeing of their wider communities, for they are about far more than the provision of goods and services alone, vitally important though these of course are.
They are also about providing important opportunities for social interaction, especially amongst the old and isolated; about events and cultural activities; and, very importantly, they are about community cohesion and pride.
And unsurprisingly, small, independent businesses are their beating hearts.
Recent research into high streets conducted by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and Public First found that the public considers small businesses to be more important than large businesses when it comes to keeping traditional crafts and skills alive, creating pride in local communities, providing unique services and products, and growing local economies.
And this matters, for very sadly, demographic decline continues in much of the Highlands, not least in the Wester Ross area, populations both shrinking and ageing.
Halting and reversing this trend is by no means easy – it’s long-established – and it certainly can’t be done by increasing local birth rates alone.
We really must retain and attract more young people and families into our communities, and this means working to make all parts of the Highlands great places to live, work and play.
And very importantly, it means keeping our communities vibrant and welcoming.
Central to this are our high streets – or other clusters of small businesses in communities without them.
High streets and their futures have been much discussed in recent years, not least in a series of reports published by the Federation of Small Businesses, but how are they doing now, in the wake of the cornavirus pandemic?
Have they recovered from the rush to shop online that gripped the country during lockdowns?
Are people returning to our cafés, bars, restaurants and arts and cultural centres?
What issues are venues such as these as well as shops and other small businessses facing?
How is national and local government policy affecting them?
FSB is now conducting a UK-wide ‘Future Of The High Streets’ survey to establish just how healthy our high streets are and what can be done to make them even stronger, helping them to flourish long into the future.
The findings will underpin our recommendations to national and local governments on many issues, including business rates, parking and transport, access to cash and street cleaning.
If you run a small business, please help us help you by taking part – there is a £250 cash prize draw as an incentive. The survey closes on July 27.
David Richardson is Highlands and Islands development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses Scotland.
