In a letter organised by the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) this week, leaders from fourteen different Scottish retailers have written to the Scottish Government’s Finance Secretary, Shona Robison MSP, urging for a permanent business rate discount for all retailers.
The retailers’ letter - which in total represents 295 stores across Scotland - comes in the wake of the UK Budget, which confirmed retailers in England will be entitled to a 10% discount on their business rate from April 2026.
David Lonsdale (left), director of the SRC, said: “This is an unequivocal message from a formidable cross section of Scottish headquartered retailers which calls on Ministers to at the very least match the business rate discount on offer to retailers in England from next Spring.
“Scottish Ministers have proved fleet of foot on rates previously, for example delivering more regular revaluations and ditching the mooted surtax on grocery stores. Hopefully, the Finance Secretary will take heed and act in her budget next month to protect Scotland’s retail industry.”
Signatories of the letter included Debbie Harding, chief people and corporate officer at Dobbies Garden Centres and chair of the SRC, Colin McLean, CEO of CJ Lang & Son (Spar Scotland), Paul Stirling, group retail director of One O One Convenience Stores and more.
Also speaking about the letter, Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Retailers Assoication (Bira), said: “Scotland has got to reduce business rates for independent retail in the same way we have seen in Wales - genuine decreases in rates bills, not just limits on how much they can rise.
“High streets are struggling, and if we carry on increasing the burden on smaller retailers, the only businesses left will be the illicit shops selling illegal vapes and counterfeit goods. We need a thriving legitimate retail sector, and that means making it financially viable for honest independent retailers to trade.
“Scotland cannot afford to lag behind if it wants to protect jobs, support local economies, and keep high streets alive.”
The joint letter to the Finance Secretary can be read in full here.
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