Small companies are being plunged into a crisis by soaring energy bills.
Official data shows the number of companies across Scotland that have gone out of business has risen from 418 in the first nine months of last year to 646 over the same period this year – with rising costs being blamed.
Dumfries butcher Stuart Houston was stunned when he was told that the annual electricity bill for his shop is set to almost triple, from £25,000 to £67,000 this year.
And it has left him fearing for the future of many small businesses across the region.
Mr Houston said: “It’s getting frightening now and the government has got to realise this is a major crisis.
“These prices are having a knock-on effect on our local economy. Somebody has got to help.
“If 10 small local businesses that employ five members of staff are forced to close because they can’t afford electricity prices, that means there would be 50 people out of work and looking for jobs amid a cost-of-living crisis.
“If businesses aren’t there to employ people, there won’t be an economy and the country as a whole would go bankrupt. It’s a real concern.”
He added: “I had an electricity bill for £8,750 for six-and-a-half weeks.
“Like other butcher’s shops and pubs, I can turn off the lights at night but I can’t turn off the fridges.
“The future of a lot of small businesses will depend on any help we get from the government.”
Despite spiralling costs, Mr Houston has decided to go ahead this year with his popular Christmas lights spectacular outside his premises in Greenbrae Loaning.
“I don’t know what the impact will be on my bill but it’s part of Christmas for us and our customers and right now we need something to cheer us up.”
