A NEW survey has found that the majority of businesses in the South of Scotland are taking positive action to support their communities.
The findings are from the latest South of Scotland Business Panel Survey, which had a focus on community wealth building.
It was carried out last November and December with 601 firms and 72 per cent of them were taking actions to benefit the local community, ranging from providing financial support or donations to community groups or initiatives, engaging with schools, colleges or universities around career opportunities and allowing the community to use their facilities.
In terms of spending, 66 per cent were using or increasing their use of local suppliers.
When asked about their priorities as a business over the next two to three years, 58 per cent placed links with and impact on the community and profitable growth as equally important.
A further 17 per cent felt that their impact on the local community was more important that their businesses’ profit, while 12 per cent cited profitable growth as more important than links with the local community.
Commenting, Jane Morrison-Ross, chief executive of SOSE, said: “It is positive to find that South of Scotland businesses see sharing wealth with their communities as an important priority.
“This is demonstrated by their determination to prioritise Fair Work, support community groups, and use local suppliers.
“This community wealth building approach can lead to more, and better jobs being created, increased business growth, more community-owned assets and shorter supply chains, all providing greater resilience and supporting Net Zero ambitions.”
The full results of the latest South of Scotland Business Panel Survey are available at www.southofscotlandenterprise.com/business-panel-surveys.
