Majority of small business owners 'do not want second referendum'

Colin Borland, the Federation of Small Businesses' head of external affairs in Scotland

Instead they want to see ministers put a stronger focus on supporting the country’s 330,000 micro businesses, employing 10 people or less, and the self employed.

A third (33%) of the 440 business owners north of the border surveyed by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) since last week’s Holyrood election supported such action.

When asked what initiative the new Scottish Government should not take forward, 57% said there should be no second vote on independence over the next Holyrood term.

Almost one in seven (14%) of business owners want to see ministers working towards better broadband and mobile phone coverage across Scotland, while 10% say the focus should be on reforming business rates.

Almost half (48%) said they do not think the economy will be the top priority for the new Government, with 38% saying this would be the main concern.

But 46% said they believe issues affecting small businesses will be taken seriously by ministers, with 33% disagreeing with this.

Colin Borland, the FSB’s head of external affairs in Scotland, said: “The business of government is all about juggling relative priorities and these figures show that smaller firms want a firm focus on the bread and butter, practical issues that affect their daily business life.

“Many Scottish small businesses have faith that their prospects will be important to Nicola Sturgeon’s administration, but only two in five think the economy will be her ministers’ primary focus.”

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