Evidence needed to get policy-makers to act on business troubles in Caithness and Sutherland
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Businesses in Caithness and Sutherland are being urged to make their voices heard in a nationwide survey about difficult trading conditions.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Scotland this week launched its biggest ever state-of-the-nation survey project, The Big Small Business Survey.
In it, small business owners across Scotland are being asked an extended series of questions covering every aspect of the trading conditions and challenges they face.
The aim is to give small businesses, and by extension the communities that they represent, a loud, fact-based voice that influences politicians and policy-makers, locally and nationally.
The survey is open to members of the FSB and non-members all, and it says the more responses it generates the more accurate the results will be.
Stacey Dingwall, head of policy at FSB Scotland, said: “It has been an incredibly challenging time for businesses over the last couple of years and 2023 looks like it could be even more difficult. That is why it is more important than ever to open a space up for small business owners to tell us what they are experiencing, what their challenges and ambitions are, and what effects local, national and global events are having on their businesses.
“By getting a comprehensive view of the small business community in post-pandemic Scotland we can make sure that our policy work continues to be evidence-based and decision makers locally and nationally are aware of what their needs are.
“This survey is open to all small business owners, not just FSB members, so we encourage all operators to fill out the survey, have their say and ensure their voice is heard.”
David Richardson, the FSB’s Highlands and Islands development manager, said: “I cannot stress the importance of this survey to the Highlands and Islands strongly enough. Business owner after business owner tells me how difficult life is at the moment – their pain is obvious – but, sadly, these comments and case studies are not enough to convince the powers that be on their own.
“If, as the voice of small businesses locally and nationally, the FSB is to convince politicians and policy-makers that action is required, we must present them with hard facts that reveal the true nature of the threats, challenges and opportunities that businesses face, and these can only be obtained through surveys.
“And this is certainly not just about the national picture. The more people that take part the more we will be able to break the results down locally, giving us a true picture of what is happening in Caithness and Sutherland, and across the country.
“We often say to businesses, ‘help us help you by taking part in this or that survey’, and never has this been more important than now. If you run a business, please help us help you by completing our Big Small Business Survey today.
The survey is available at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/bigsmallbizsurvey
