Highland businesses will be 'pleasantly surprised' at lockdown easing measures

North business leader David Richardson believes firms in the region will be "pleasantly surprised" at the measures set out by Nicola Sturgeon on the easing of Scotland's lockdown.

Steps announced by the First Minister include the "stay at home" regulations being lifted on April 2 and replaced with guidance to "stay local", with more services including hairdressers, garden centres and non-essential click-and-collect services to open from April 5.

Further easing from April 26 will include all retail premises and tourist accommodation, as well as a limited reopening of the hospitality sector and the lifting of all restrictions on journeys in mainland Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon also highlighted one-off grants to help businesses reopen.

Mr Richardson, the Federation of Small Businesses’ Highlands and Islands development manager, said: “Overall, Highland businesses will be pleasantly surprised at the First Minister’s statement.

"We know that tourism and hospitality businesses in particular have been desperate for more clarity so that they can start to plan, and now, while the reopening dates certainly aren’t soon enough for many, we know what should happen when if everything goes well.

“However, while the publication of the roadmap is very welcome, many small Highland businesses are laden with massive debts and, today’s announcement not withstanding, they remain in crisis.

"Our newest survey has found that 40 per cent don’t know if they will survive until the end of April and 46 per cent for the next few months. So while the Scottish Government’s new restart grants are very welcome indeed, many of the independent operators on which our communities rely are going to need more financial help to get them to midsummer and beyond.”

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