Scottish Government: Retail Support

Government sets out new retail sector support plan

The Scottish Government is seeking to upskill retail sector staff and improve working conditions, as part of anewly published strategy to better support retailers in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Developed in partnership with the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) the Getting the Right Change: A Retail Strategy for Scotland plan outlines a number of actions to be taken by the Scottish Government, business leaders and trade unions in a bid to grow businesses, improve wellbeing and address inequality. These include:

● Developing and promoting a FairWork Agreement that retailers canvoluntarily sign up to, to improvefair work conditions across thesector and contribute to reductionof in-work poverty.

● Working with Skills DevelopmentScotland and other partners ona Skills Audit and Action Plan,to support retail re-skilling orup-skilling as jobs change, forexample due to technology likeself-scan checkouts and onlineordering systems.

● Developing a Just Transition Plan for Retail to protect jobs and contribute to net zero emissions by 2045 through developing local supply chains, reuse of materials and sustainable travel choices by staff and customers.

● Promoting town and city centresand local businesses whilesupporting ways to re-purposevacant retail units.

● Harnessing opportunities in theNational Strategy for EconomicTransformation that will directlysupport the retail sector, likeactions to grow businesses,boost productivity and supportentrepreneurship.

A new Industry Leadership Group will also be established to drive delivery of the retail strategy, co-chaired by Public Finance Minister Tom Arthur.

Commenting on the strategy, Arthur said: “As we have seen during the pandemic, our retailers have played and continue to play a vital role in creatively supporting our communities.

“Our retail strategy sets out actions to support the sector to rebuild from the effects of the pandemic, address longer-term challenges and maximise opportunities to fulfill its potential.

“We want to support innovation and entrepreneurship, and seize opportunities from new technology and markets, to boost productivity and grow businesses.

SRC chairman John Brodie MBE added: “Retail is Scotland’s largest private sector employer and this more strategic and collaborative approach to supporting and nurturing the growth of the industry should help it flourish and fulfill its potential over the decade ahead.

“This will benefit retailers and the millions of customers they serve in Scotland, as well as the supply chain and broader economic ecosystem that retail touches, and help drive forward Scotland’s economy.”