Support for Highlands and Islands town centres can boost the local economy

And there is growing recognition of the fact that people need to get behind their town centres if businesses in them are to survive the consequences of Covid-19 and thrive beyond the pandemic.

People living in Highlands and Islands were surveyed as part of a poll commissioned by Scotland’s Towns Partnership for the Scotland Loves Local campaign.

It found that:

○ 60 per cent of people will always shop on their local high street rather than going further afield, whenever they can do so.

○ 95 per cent of those surveyed believe there is a strong chance that many businesses on the local high street will go bust if people don’t support them.

○ 86 per cent say it’s vital that people in their community support businesses on their local high streets.

Across Scotland, 56 per cent of those questioned in the survey said they always prioritised using their local high street.

The results have been welcomed as a signal of the strong support for the region’s town centres – highlighting the importance of people thinking local first and using businesses in their community.

Phil Prentice, chief officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, said: “The positive power of people across the region supporting their high street should not be underestimated. Every pound spent locally flips six times in the area’s economy, so the knock-on effect is significant. Thinking local first protects jobs, helps the environment and helps make our communities better places to live.

“Our polling highlights how the community pride and the spirit of localism we’ve seen throughout the pandemic has strengthened support for town centres.

“As we all live more of our lives locally we must embrace this to ensure that stronger, more sustainable town centres are the beating heart of the future across the Highlands and Islands.”

Scotland Loves Local, a major multimedia campaign spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership with the support of the Scottish Government, is the national drive for people to support their local economies and fuel the nation’s financial fightback from Covid-19 from its grassroots and within all public health guidelines.

It is supported by influential organisations including the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland (FSB).

Andrew McRae, FSB’s Scotland policy chair, said: “Successful independent shops have long been synonymous with successful local places.

“That’s why nine in 10 people in Scotland believe that their community should support retailers and other businesses in their town or on the high street.

“They know that, if they want to live in a strong, successful community, they need their local firms to thrive.”