Scottish smaller firms support up to 70 per cent of rural private sector jobs

Scottish small business employment is proportionately highest in the Orkney Islands, the Western Isles, the Shetland Islands, the Scottish Borders and Argyll & Bute, according to the FSB. In these areas smaller firms generate at least half of private sector jobs. 

However the official statistics also show that 79,880 people are employed by these types of businesses in Glasgow, more than in any other council area. Edinburgh follows closely behind with 72,380 people provided work by smaller operators.

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Andrew McRae, FSB’s Scotland policy chair, said: “These figures show that across the length and breadth of Scotland smaller firms are vital to local jobs and the health of local communities. In our cities, hundreds of thousands of Scots work for small businesses and in rural Scotland they account for every second job.

“Small Business Saturday is a day to celebrate the contribution of these firms while backing high streets and town centres. So, this weekend we’re urging Scots to check out the brilliant shops, cafés, pubs, restaurants and all the other independent operators that can be found in our local communities.” 

Small Business Saturday is now in its sixth year in the UK, and in 2017 an estimated £748m was spent with small businesses on the first Saturday of December.

Claire Baker MSP said: “More than forty thousand people in Fife are employed by smaller businesses and my constituents regularly tell me how important a healthy local high street is to their community. That’s why I’m pleased to support Small Business Saturday – an important day that reminds us of the importance of shopping locally.

“This weekend, I will be visiting small businesses in my local high street in Fife. My local town, Burntisland, has a number of great local shops; an award winning butchers, a local and popular fishmongers; and an ice-cream parlour that is a clear family favourite.”