Jamie Corkery will lead merchant engagement for the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card, working alongside over 7,000 existing businesses who are part of the initiative, including shops, restaurants, attractions, salons and services, with a goal of bringing more businesses on board to accept the card.

The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card was introduced in 2021 by Scotland’s Towns Partnership in 2021 as part of the wider Scotland Loves Local campaign, with over £16m generated through the initiative to date across the 30+ regional programmes across Scotland.

Mr Corkery said the role is an opportunity to use his degree and industry experience. He explained: “I finished my international tourism degree at Cardiff just before the pandemic, and began working in the hospitality industry for Pickering’s Gin as a tour guide at their distillery, which is located in Summerhall, the largest independent arts hub in Europe, and also had the chance to work as a tour guide at the oldest Whisky distillery in Scotland, Glenturret Distillery in Crieff, Perthshire.

“I learnt so much about the drinks industry, tourism and hosted tours for people from all over the world.

“Scotland has so much to offer and I want people to experience it all, so as a tour guide, I’d often recommend additional places for guests to visit across Scotland.

“While working at the distillery, I also worked part time in a bar, and I’ve seen first-hand some of the challenges that small business owners have faced over the past few years, from the pandemic to the cost of living. My parents also have their own business, so I know how much goes into running a business.”

He continued: “When I heard about the Scotland Loves Local Gift card ambassador role, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to combine my degree, my love for Scotland, the hospitality experience, and the knowledge I’ve gained from working with small businesses. It’s my goal to help businesses showcase what they do through being a part of the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card.

“The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card is free for businesses to be a part of and works through their existing payment terminals. The card is like free advertising for a business, encouraging two types of tourism, international and domestic. It shows the recipient what’s local and quality, all within a single card. I’m a people person and I’m looking forward to travelling across Scotland and helping businesses drive footfall and spend through the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card.”

Kimberley Guthrie, Scotland’s Towns Partnership’s chief officer, said: “Jamie’s appointment reflects our continued commitment to supporting local businesses and ensuring they can fully benefit from the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card.

“The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card has already delivered more than £16 million directly into local economies across Scotland, and by welcoming new businesses into the programme we can strengthen town centres, boost local spend and help communities thrive. Jamie will play a key role in helping businesses showcase what makes them special and connect with both local customers and visitors.”

The technology for the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card is provided by Miconex.

David O’Neil, chief customer officer at Miconex, said: “An extraordinary £16m has been locked into Scotland through the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card to date, with every card spent delivering a tangible boost to our Scottish towns and cities.

“We have an exciting year ahead of us for the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card as we approach the 5th anniversary of the initiative, with a goal of bringing the benefits of the card to even more businesses across Scotland.”