Scottish Hospitality Group has launched a nationwide billboard campaign delivering an urgent message to policymakers and the Scottish Government: ‘Stop Killing Hospitality Jobs’.
The campaign comes as licensed hospitality businesses across the country begin paying ‘financially crippling’ non-domestic rates bills, which in some cases have increased by over 500% following the latest rates valuation round.
SHG said that this extraordinary cost burden on hospitality businesses was ‘not sustainable, not manageable, and was costing real jobs’.
“Across Scotland, businesses are now facing decisions that will directly impact their teams, their futures, and their communities,” said SHG. “Hours will be cut. Jobs will be lost. Doors will close.
“The consequences will be visible everywhere, not just across newspapers or social media, but in failing high streets, shuttered venues, and communities losing vital social spaces.
“A system that delivers increases of this scale is not just flawed, it is completely indefensible to policymakers.”
The hospitality sector has been united in protesting the current non-domestic rates valuation model for licensed premises, which is based on business turnover, ‘actively penalising investment, growth, and success’.
Opposition to a parallel rates review in Northern Ireland has already prompted the Assembly there to protect its hospitality businesses by halting the increases, pending a reorganisation of the province’s valuation system.
Scottish Hospitality Group director, Stephen Montgomery, wants Scottish politicians to do the same.
“These increases are costing jobs, it is as simple as that,” said Montgomery.
“What we are seeing is an out-of-date system which is completely disconnected from the reality of running a licensed hospitality business.
“Discounts are of course welcomed for those with a rateable value of under £100k, but transitional relief is simply a slow injection towards the inevitable failure of businesses already under pressure.
“Those with a rateable value of over £100k have basically been told to suck it up! How would people react if their council tax went up by 500% without the means to pay for it?” he asked.
“Enough is enough, and we are calling on the Scottish Government, ahead of the elections, to intervene now, and halt these revaluations immediately, before the blame for lost jobs, failed businesses, and empty high streets lands firmly at their door.”
Montgomery stressed that this was not just an issue of concern to those within the hospitality industry – it was an economic and social threat affecting every town and city across the country.
“Without urgent intervention, the outcome is clear. Fewer businesses, fewer jobs, and long-term damage to Scotland’s high streets. Stop killing hospitality jobs, before it’s too late.”
- Bar, pub and restaurant operators have been asked to submit their personal evidence to the Scottish Government’s ongoing review of the non-domestic rates system for licensed hospitality. The closing date for evidence submission is 20th April 2026.
