Question reference: S5W-26572
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 28 November 2019
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Current status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 11 December 2019
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports businesses, and what information it has regarding the number of businesses currently in operation compared with previous years.
Answer
The Scottish Government supports businesses across Scotland through a wide range of interventions delivered through our enterprise and skills agencies. In addition, our Economic Action Plan sets out how we will achieve a more joined-up approach so that businesses can access the right information, advice and support at the right time. This includes through the development of an online single entry point which will allow a business to access products and services from our enterprise and skills agencies, as well as Business Gateway. We also support small businesses through offering the most generous package of rates relief in the UK, including through the Small Business Bonus Scheme.
According to Businesses in Scotland 2019 , published in November, there were an estimated 356,550 private sector businesses operating in Scotland as at March 2019, the highest point in the series (which goes back to 2000) and an increase of 2.8% (9,755 businesses) on 2018.