Gateway helps 325 businesses launch in West Lothian despite lockdowns
More than 300 new businesses were launched with the help of the West Lothian Business Gateway over the last year, despite the problems caused by the covid pandemic and Brexit.
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In the last financial year, 325 new businesses received help to start trading across West Lothian.
In a report to the recent meeting of that ward’s local area committee, Scott McKillop, a council regeneration officer, said: “This is a healthy level of new starts, especially in a strong jobs market with many vacancies.”
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All of this came at a time when many businesses faced permanent closure after months of lockdown or furlough and its end last October. Local businesses have also struggled with increased costs and paperwork difficulties for exports as the result of Brexit.