Trio of Scots cities among UK's best places for local businesses

Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen have been ranked among the UK’s top 50 communities for supporting local businesses.

Glasgow City is the highest-ranking Scottish location, with a local legend score of 62.6 (file image). Picture: John Devlin.

The study from business credit card specialist Capital on Tap looked at the longevity of local companies such as restaurants and cafes, butcher shops, bakeries, and greengrocers, to find where “local legends” have been serving their communities for more than 25, 50 and even 100 years.

The finance-provider has also compiled the number of such local legends per capita. Glasgow City ranked highest of the three Scottish locations in 11th place – with a local legend score of 62.6. It boasts 152 legends, including two that date back at least a century, with 24 legends per 100,000 people.

Edinburgh came 15th with a local legend score of 53.3. It is home to 115 legends, again with two that are 100 years or older, and 21.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. Aberdeen City’s local legend score of 37.5 saw it ranked 39th and it has 78 legends, of which one is older than a century.

Topping the chart was Manchester with a local legend score of 95.9, and it was also found to be home to the oldest registered company included in the study, the Fallowfield Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club that can trace its roots back 150 years.

In Scotland, Dundee coffee shop J.A. Braithwaite was one of the oldest local legends included in the study.

Capital on Tap chief executive David Luck commented: “From bakeries to bookshops, these traders are the lifeblood of local communities, so it’s great to see how businesses up and down the country have kept their doors open for so long.

“The last nine months or so have been incredibly challenging for businesses everywhere, and while the future is still uncertain, seeing how so many businesses have managed to survive for more than 25 years, or even 100 in some cases, shows just how resilient the nation’s entrepreneurs can be – with some continuing to trade despite two World Wars and numerous economic recessions.

“Even during a worldwide pandemic, local traders continued to serve their communities, often fronting the cost of personal protective equipment themselves and putting their own health at risk. That’s why we believe that local business-owners truly are legends who are well-deserving of a shout-out for keeping our cupboards stocked, and the economy going throughout 2020."

Capital on Tap has also reported that since lockdown began in March, there has been a 163 per cent year-on-year jump in searches for “support local businesses”. The finance-provider’s suggestions to help support local firms include buying gift vouchers, rescheduling instead of cancelling, tipping extra, and leaving a positive online review.

Efforts north of the Border to help the sector include the Scotland Loves Local campaign run by Scotland's Towns Partnership, which last month revealed that more than two thirds of people said they would buy Christmas gifts online from their local shops.

It said in October that more than half of Scots always support shops on their high street, with every pound spent locally flipping six times in the area’s economy – but the sector needed backing to survive the consequences of Covid-19.

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