OVER the weekend, small business owners in towns and villages across East Lothian joined Small Business Saturday, an initiative backed by the Federation of Small Business to promote independent local shops.

Being small can lead to an inferiority complex, particularly for men, but that is not the case for hundreds of local businesses – they love small, and they love being different.

Two examples of exceptional personal service can be found at Etc in North Berwick. If cooking with stylish gadgets rocks your boat, Etc’s owner is very knowledgeable and sells innovative home products. For outdoorsy types, at Belhaven Bikes in Dunbar, the proprietors give expert advice about skateboards, bikes and scooters.

Small businesses are at the heart of the East Lothian economy and I am passionate about helping them thrive.

The Scottish Government must continue to support small businesses and indeed go further to ensure that those who represent 98 per cent of East Lothian’s economy continue to be the lifeblood of our communities.

I believe the best way to support business is through a strong, stable economic climate that nurtures investment and growth. The Conservative Government’s decision at the recent Autumn Statement to prioritise high-value infrastructure and innovation will support businesses across the UK. The Chancellor has committed £800 million to boost investment in Scotland for transport projects and digital connectivity to help rebalance the economy.

Challenges are numerous: small retailers across East Lothian say they struggle to pay rents and bills, their cash flow is seasonal and weather-dependent, and recruitment is difficult because many young adults leave their roots to seek higher wages.

Apart from the 50 per cent of residents who commute to Edinburgh, small retailers provide most of the employment opportunities here.

However, according to an FSB study, 60 per cent of small businesses don’t engage with schools and on the other hand 38 per cent of firms say skills shortages are one of the barriers to growth.

For young people, choosing a career pathway is confusing. Synergy between business and education is growing and school leavers now take opportunities to link with business through work experience, part-time jobs and vocational college courses. Recommendations from Sir Ian Wood’s report on developing Scotland’s young workforce are being implemented in the local high schools.

Small businesses have a key role in bridging the gap between business and education to develop our young workforce.