Business leaders in the Barrhead area are calling for their relationship with politicians to be “reset.”

In a policy document entitled Rally for Growth, East Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce (ERCC) said Scottish parliamentarians must do more to “understand and support the value and importance of business.”

The report has been released ahead of next month’s Holyrood election in an effort to offer potential parliamentarians a blueprint for economic recovery in the wake of damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the impact of Brexit.

ERCC is calling for Scottish Ministers to pass a Business Growth Act within the first 100 days of the new parliamentary term, encompassing the most urgent issues facing businesses, such as reducing upfront costs and investing in digital services and infrastructure.

The organisation also wants a new joint economic partnership that would oversee an ambitious programme of policies to boost business growth and job creation.

This partnership would bring together ministers, the Scottish Government’s Council of Economic Advisers and experts from the Scottish Chambers of Commerce.

John Hamilton, ERCC president, told the Barrhead News: “Our wide-ranging Rally for Growth action plan is the manifesto of the business community to forge a new, closer, more effective alliance between Scottish businesses and the next Scottish Parliament.

“We hope our plan will provide a comprehensive yet practical set of ideas that will be fundamental to ensuring our economy bounces back and is ready to grasp new trading opportunities here and abroad.

“The pace of government action must be accelerated considerably. People need commerce and government to align if we are to tackle the big challenges ahead.

“In this most critical moment, it is vital that Scottish Ministers and business leaders are talking the same language and recognising the need to balance long-term strategies for growth alongside concrete action in the here and now to ensure we retain as many businesses as possible whilst creating new jobs.”

To read the full report click HERE.