Backing Small Businesses in North East Fife

Wendy with Zaphar at the Premier Store in Lundin Links

Small businesses are the backbone of North East Fife’s economy. From family-run shops on our high streets to cafes, tradespeople and start-ups, they provide jobs, services and a sense of identity to our towns and villages. When they struggle, whole communities feel the impact.

Over recent months, I’ve visited many local businesses to hear directly about the challenges they face. One recent visit was to the Premier Store in Leven, where I spoke with staff about rising energy costs, business rates and the pressure of inflation on both customers and retailers. Local corner shops like this one are more than just places to buy essentials - they are community hubs, particularly for older residents and those without easy access to transport.

Again and again, business owners tell me the same thing: they want to invest, to grow and to take on staff, but uncertainty and rising costs are holding them back. That is why I am hosting business round table discussions this week and next, bringing together local employers to share their experiences and talk about what practical support would make the biggest difference. These conversations are vital if policy is to reflect real life experiences.

Thanks to the Scottish Liberal Democrats, important changes involving an additional £300 million in support were secured in the Scottish Budget. This includes rates relief for many hospitality businesses, and additional funding for hospices and skills. It shows that constructive politics can deliver results when it focuses on people and communities rather than point-scoring, and reflects the conversations that I and others have been having with businesses in North East Fife and elsewhere.

But there is much more to do. Business rates reform must properly reflect the realities facing small retailers. Energy costs need to be fair and predictable. And government at every level must recognise that thriving local businesses are essential to tackling poverty, reducing loneliness and keeping high streets alive.

Supporting small businesses in North East Fife is not just an economic priority, it is a community one. I will continue to visit, listen and speak up for our local employers, and to push for policies that give them the stability and support they need to succeed.