A Highland business leader is warning over moves to scrap rates relief by the Scottish Government.

A HIGHLAND business leader is warning that any moves to scrap Scottish Government rates relief would hammer already struggling firms and traders in smaller rural communities.

David Richardson, the Federation of Small Businesses’ Highlands and Islands development manager, urged ministers to stick by a manifesto commitment to retain the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS).

His warning came after the independent Fraser of Allander Institute, a leading research body on Scotland’s economy, published an official review of SBBS that proposed creating a digital registry of businesses in Scotland to measure the impact of rates relief policy.

Mr Richardson said: “The region is characterised by numerous small businesses, many of them vital to the health of their communities. Trading conditions have changed dramatically for the worse since this review was commissioned.”

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