Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan, has offered his support for this weekend’s Small Business Saturday – which encourages people to shop locally and support their local businesses.

Alasdair Allan intends to visit local businesses as part of the Small Business Saturday – and pointed to SNP Government action to support small businesses across Scotland, including the small business bonus and the £500m growth fund.

Statistics from the Scottish Government show there are 1,155 small enterprises across the Western Isles – contributing £330 million annually to the local economy.

Alasdair Allan commented:

“Small Business Saturday is an excellent initiative and one which helps to support local businesses.

“The SNP in government has always made efforts to support small businesses across the Isles, from introducing and extending the small business bonus to launching a growth fund worth £500m to deal with the new challenges created by Brexit.

“Small businesses are often at the heart of our communities and are the lifeblood of Scotland’s economy, supporting jobs and growth across the country. With over a thousand small enterprises in the Isles, there’s plenty of opportunity for people to get out and shop locally.

“I encourage people to join me on Saturday by visiting local businesses to show support for the Small Business Saturday initiative. It comes just weeks before Christmas, in the busiest retail time of the year, and it would be great if people used the opportunity to look at what is on offer in the local shops.

“Last year’s event saw £623 million spent across local businesses in the UK, and by getting more people out in their local shops this weekend we can achieve even more.”