More than half of Scotland’s small businesses plan to expand in the next two years, but rising running costs are a significant threat to their ambitions.

The the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) surveyed 478 small business owners in Scotland between 27 January and 21 March, finding that staff shortages have forced one in five to cut the services they offer during the past year.

A lack of access to finance and the growing regulatory burden were also highlighted as significant issues for Scotland’s small businesses, which collectively turn over £93bn annually and employ around 900,000 people.

FSB Scotland chair Guy Hinks said: “It is vital that all levels of government keep tightly focused on the needs of small businesses, and the pressures facing them, when they are developing new po

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