MORE than 400 hospitality businesses and workers in Scotland have penned an open letter to First Minister Humza Yousaf, appealing for urgent support. The letter warns of an impending crisis in Scottish hospitality, and without new assistance in the upcoming Scottish Budget, many businesses may face closure.
The plea comes a week before the Scottish Budget, with pressure mounting on the government to match the support provided by the UK Government for hospitality businesses in England. The UK Government announced a 75% business rates relief for English hospitality businesses in the next year during the Autumn Statement.
The signatories include well-known bars, pubs, restaurants, and hotels across Scotland. The Save Scottish Hospitality campaign emphasises the need for fresh support, calling for a 75% emergency business rates relief, the creation of a new hospitality category for business rates, and a partnership between the industry and the government to develop a plan for growth.
Stephen Montgomery, Director of the Scottish Hospitality Group, stressed the urgency, stating, “The First Minister must listen to those on the frontline of our hospitality sector and deliver support to save our hospitality sector.”
The Scottish Hospitality Group, representing a broad spectrum of hospitality businesses, urges the government to back the industry for survival and growth, highlighting the importance of fairer business rates to provide a fighting chance for the struggling sector.
