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Highland Conservative MSP Edward Mountain welcomes news that 250 Highlanders have launched new businesses through a UK government scheme


By Gregor White

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MSP Edward Mountain.
MSP Edward Mountain.

250 Highlanders have supported to launch new businesses through a UK government scheme according to new figures.

Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Edward Mountain has welcomed the success of the UK government’s New Enterprise Allowance scheme, which has helped 250 Highlanders open businesses since 2011.

New figures also show that between April 2011 and June 2020 more than 13,000 jobseekers in Scotland used support from their local Jobcentre and the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) scheme, to launch their own business.

Launched in 2011, there has been over a quarter of million NEA starts by unemployed benefit claimant able to access a personal business mentor and weekly living allowance as well as being able to apply for financial backing of up to £25,000 for their start-up.

Mr Mountain said: “This remains a challenging time for families across the Highlands but the UK government is committed to supporting the recovery of our local economy.

"Budding entrepreneurs can apply for support through the UK government’s New Enterprise Allowance to make their business idea a reality.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy and it is vital that Highlanders continue to use this scheme.

"Encouraging entrepreneurship helps to create more local jobs and that will help to drive the economic recovery as we build back better from the coronavirus pandemic.”


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