Scottish Apprentice contestant warns General Election could have ‘catastrophic impact’ on SMEs

Reece Donnelly has warned that small businesses ‘won’t survive’ if the incoming party after the General Election fails to consider relief costs amid the ongoing economic crisis.

The Glaswegian entrepreneur and contestant on The Apprentice also believes the election could have a ‘catastrophic impact’, depending on who is elected this summer and worries it’s ‘all a bit rushed’.

He is the founder of The Theatre School of Scotland and Theatre College of Scotland,

Speaking on behalf of AltIndex, Donnelly commented: “For me, as a business owner across Scotland, it really makes me think, what are we about to go into?

“There’s this uncertainty, and lack of reassurance over what’s going on in government; does this mean we are going to see rising costs? Does this mean we are going to see taxes go up?

“In Scotland, in particular, at the moment, there is a real sense of financial strain.“

He continued: “As a business owner, this could have a catastrophic impact depending on who we choose, it could cause massive change in Scotland.

“I own a premises slap bang in the city centre of Glasgow, and I can’t walk through the street without seeing tonnes of ‘to let’ signs.

“It’s these sorts of issues I want to know, who is tackling them, and who will help restore our economy?“

Donnelly argued that as small and medium enterprises account for about 99% of the business population in the UK, the net government must listen to their concerns.

“The UK Government as a whole has made a very clear stance on somewhat punishing and sanctioning businesses that are based within city-centre regions across the UK – in Glasgow, we are being slapped with an LEZ area, there’s also rising parking costs, a high street that doesn’t exist anymore… we need to see much more support from the government around small businesses.“

He pointed out that the population in Glasgow city centre is down to what’s needed to make the economic minimum uptake by around 80,000 – with the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce announcing that the city is 90,000 people short in the central postcode since Covid.

“I need to hear from a party who is going to relieve costs such as this from small businesses, as I really do wonder how many will continue to survive through the ongoing economic crisis.“

Donnelly said that Scottish politics is in turmoil, without a clear version or strategy under the new leadership of John Swinney.

“I’m not saying John Swinney’s predecessor was all sunshine and rainbows, but I think Nicola Sturgeon had a bit of strategy, and Humza stepped into that role, and now Swinney being the only member of the political party putting himself forward was a bit of a concern.”

He added that one of his main concerns was for the future of education in this country.

“I have a burning feeling whatever political party is coming in, will cause education to take a massive hit in Scotland.

“At the moment, we get 29.5 hours of free education, and they’re talking about cutting this to 22, which would ultimately mean we’re saving payroll on teachers and relieving pressure, but children of today’s society have gone through enough.

“I would like to see a political party who is going to step up and support the next generation, they need validation that their needs are going to be met.”

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