Moray SNP News

LOCHHEAD VISITS KEITH BUSINESSES WITH FEDERATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES REP

Moray’s MSP Richard Lochhead was joined by Mike Duncan, Development Manager at the Federation of Small Businesses, as he visited several local businesses in Keith. 

The businesses, all members of the Federation of Small Businesses, spoke with the MSP about a range of issues facing their businesses as well as their plans for the future.

The Federation of Small Businesses offer their members a wide range of vital business services including advice, financial expertise and support, with the aim to help smaller businesses achieve their ambitions.

Commenting, Richard Lochhead MSP said:

“I was delighted to visit some local businesses in Keith to listen to their thoughts on some of the key issues facing the business community at the moment. Indeed, things sounded very positive and is testament to the strong relationship between businesses and the local community.

“Small, local businesses make a big difference to our communities and local economy, providing jobs in the area and playing a big role in making our community so vibrant.

“While I was visiting in my role as local MSP, it was good to pick up on some of the common issues businesses are grappling with, such as card machine charges, that I can look to pursue in my role as Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade.

“The Scottish Government is helping our businesses recover as much as it can but we can all play our part individually too, by visiting our local cafes, shops, bars, salons, restaurants and the many more businesses we are lucky to have in Moray.”

On the business visits, Mike Duncan added:

“I was happy to arrange and host these business visits, and I’d like to thank Mr Lochhead for agreeing to take part. Business owners rarely have the time to visit political surgeries, so to get the opportunity to speak to their local MSP without leaving their premises, was fantastic.

“There’s no shortage of independent retail, hospitality, and service-sector business in Keith, and it was great to hear FSB members discuss the highs and lows of running a small local business in the current economic climate.

“The FSB is always listening to what our members tell us. We are the collective voice of small business in Scotland. Yet we also recognise that, at the most local level, it’s really important to help our politicians listen to those individual voices, too.”