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Celebrating Excellence: The Scottish Thistle Awards
For nearly three decades, the Scottish Thistle Awards have stood as a beacon of recognition…

Celebrating Excellence: The Scottish Thistle Awards

For nearly three decades, the Scottish Thistle Awards have stood as a beacon of recognition for excellence in Scotland's tourism…

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SLTA Urges Action as Chancellor’s Spring Statement Fails to Provide Relief for Struggling Hospitality Sector
Chancellor’s ‘disappointing but predictable’ decision not to reduce VAT does nothing to help struggling hospitality…

SLTA Urges Action as Chancellor’s Spring Statement Fails to Provide Relief for Struggling Hospitality Sector

Chancellor’s ‘disappointing but predictable’ decision not to reduce VAT does nothing to help struggling hospitality businesses, warns SLTA The SLTA…

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Scottish Government Announces Retention of Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister delivered a statement today to the Scottish Parliament confirming the Government’s…

Scottish Government Announces Retention of Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister delivered a statement today to the Scottish Parliament confirming the Government’s intention to continue with Minimum…

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Critical Concerns for Scotland’s Hospitality Industry: SLTA Reveals 96% Consensus on Government Disconnect
The SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association) today releases a snapshot survey of the challenges facing…

Critical Concerns for Scotland’s Hospitality Industry: SLTA Reveals 96% Consensus on Government Disconnect

The SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association) today releases a snapshot survey of the challenges facing Scotland’s pubs, bars and hospitality…

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SLTA voices concern over Scottish visitor levy proposals
The SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association) has voiced deep concern over the Scottish Government’s tourist…

SLTA voices concern over Scottish visitor levy proposals

The SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association) has voiced deep concern over the Scottish Government’s tourist tax proposals after the Visitor…

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Shaping the Future: 2024 Business Impact Survey
What are the biggest challenges and issues your business is facing in 2024?  Have your…

Shaping the Future: 2024 Business Impact Survey

What are the biggest challenges and issues your business is facing in 2024?  Have your say with our national Business…

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Scottish tourism and hospitality bodies express ‘extreme disappointment’ at Scottish Budget
Leading Scottish tourism and hospitality bodies have issued a unified statement in response to the…

Scottish tourism and hospitality bodies express ‘extreme disappointment’ at Scottish Budget

Leading Scottish tourism and hospitality bodies have issued a unified statement in response to the Scottish Government budget.  The Scottish…

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Scotland’s Pubs & Bars Face Crisis: Double Closure Rate Sparks Urgent Call for Rates Funding Equality
The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) and the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) have…

Scotland’s Pubs & Bars Face Crisis: Double Closure Rate Sparks Urgent Call for Rates Funding Equality

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) and the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) have joined forces, calling on the…

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Thistle Awards Winners announced
BUSINESSES and individuals working within the tourism and events industry in Scotland have received recognition…

Thistle Awards Winners announced

BUSINESSES and individuals working within the tourism and events industry in Scotland have received recognition at Scotland’s premier tourism and…

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Urgent Plea for Parity: Scottish Hospitality Seeks Equality in Rates Relief
While celebrating the achievements and resilience of the Scottish hospitality industry, there is an underlying…

Urgent Plea for Parity: Scottish Hospitality Seeks Equality in Rates Relief

While celebrating the achievements and resilience of the Scottish hospitality industry, there is an underlying concern that threatens the very…

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SLTA ‘bitterly disappointed’ over Glasgow LEZ legal challenge outcome
The (SLTA) Scottish Licensed Trade Association has said it is “bitterly disappointed” that a long-established…

SLTA ‘bitterly disappointed’ over Glasgow LEZ legal challenge outcome

The (SLTA) Scottish Licensed Trade Association has said it is “bitterly disappointed” that a long-established Glasgow family business has lost…

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Scottish Licensed Trade Association Joins Forces with 35 Business Bodies in Urgent Call for Business Rates Freeze

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA), representing the interests of licensed establishments across Scotland, is one of thirty-five leading business…

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Hospitality trade bodies across UK and Ireland call for greater support and co-operation from governments
The United Kingdom and Ireland Licensed Trade Association, a collective group encompassing influential hospitality trade…

Hospitality trade bodies across UK and Ireland call for greater support and co-operation from governments

The United Kingdom and Ireland Licensed Trade Association, a collective group encompassing influential hospitality trade bodies, including UKHospitality, the Scottish…

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Scottish Hospitality Sector Sounds Alarm Bells as Pubs and Bars Battle Economic Challenges
Scotland’s pubs and bars face ‘a continued barrage of economic challenges’ as sector calls for…

Scottish Hospitality Sector Sounds Alarm Bells as Pubs and Bars Battle Economic Challenges

Scotland’s pubs and bars face ‘a continued barrage of economic challenges’ as sector calls for increased government support to protect…

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SLTA joins forces with Xpressjobs to tackle staff shortages in the licensed trade
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association has joined forces with a UK recruitment firm to help…

SLTA joins forces with Xpressjobs to tackle staff shortages in the licensed trade

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association has joined forces with a UK recruitment firm to help tackle current staff shortages in…

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SLTA Business Impact Summer Survey
What are the biggest challenges and issues your business is facing in 2023/24? Have your…

SLTA Business Impact Summer Survey

What are the biggest challenges and issues your business is facing in 2023/24? Have your say with our national Business…

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A guide to responding to the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill Consultation
As the lead committee appointed to scrutinise the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1,…

A guide to responding to the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill Consultation

As the lead committee appointed to scrutinise the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1, the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government,…

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Alcohol Duty Changes: Prospects for Independent Pub & Bar Owners
A major overhaul of Britain’s alcohol duty system comes into force from 1st August and could…

Alcohol Duty Changes: Prospects for Independent Pub & Bar Owners

A major overhaul of Britain’s alcohol duty system comes into force from 1st August and could have major implications for independent…

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Passion for hospitality industry is what drives new SLTA President
HEADING up a trade association is a big responsibility that needs a mixture of time,…

Passion for hospitality industry is what drives new SLTA President

HEADING up a trade association is a big responsibility that needs a mixture of time, commitment and passion, and for…

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Withdrawal of Night Bus Services in Glasgow Threatens Hospitality Sector, Warns SLTA
First Glasgow will cease its night bus services in Glasgow from the 31st July 2023. The…

Withdrawal of Night Bus Services in Glasgow Threatens Hospitality Sector, Warns SLTA

First Glasgow will cease its night bus services in Glasgow from the 31st July 2023. The change will impact 11 routes…

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A Different Way of Working with Business: SLTA welcomes Scottish Government’s renewed engagement with Business.
Action on regulations and non-domestic rates, as well as closer collaboration with business on government…

A Different Way of Working with Business: SLTA welcomes Scottish Government’s renewed engagement with Business.

Action on regulations and non-domestic rates, as well as closer collaboration with business on government policy, are key recommendations of…

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SLTA calls for ‘grown-up’ approach to DRS – ‘leaving politics out of it’
The launch of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme will be delayed until at least October 2025…

SLTA calls for ‘grown-up’ approach to DRS – ‘leaving politics out of it’

The launch of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme will be delayed until at least October 2025 as a consequence of the…

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Glasgow’s Phase Two Low Emission Zone Raises Concerns for Hospitality Sector
With the introduction of phase two of Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone today the SLTA is…

Glasgow’s Phase Two Low Emission Zone Raises Concerns for Hospitality Sector

With the introduction of phase two of Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone today the SLTA is deeply concerned about the negative…

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Share Your Insights: Take Part in the Scottish Tourism Industry Survey
The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) has launched its latest industry survey, seeking to gather insights…

Share Your Insights: Take Part in the Scottish Tourism Industry Survey

The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) has launched its latest industry survey, seeking to gather insights on the current business environment…

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Deadline extended for Scottish Thistle Awards
TOURISM and EVENTS businesses are being encouraged to enter this year’s Scottish Thistle Awards, Scotland’s…

Deadline extended for Scottish Thistle Awards

TOURISM and EVENTS businesses are being encouraged to enter this year’s Scottish Thistle Awards, Scotland’s premier tourism and events awards. …

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SLTA Welcomes Pause on DRS and Scrapping of Proposed Alcohol Advertising Ban
The (SLTA) Scottish Licensed Trade Association has welcomed the announcement by First Minister Humza Yousaf…

SLTA Welcomes Pause on DRS and Scrapping of Proposed Alcohol Advertising Ban

The (SLTA) Scottish Licensed Trade Association has welcomed the announcement by First Minister Humza Yousaf the deposit return scheme (DRS)…

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Enter the Scottish Thistle Awards 2023
SCOTLAND’S licensed trade businesses are being encouraged to enter this year’s Scottish Thistle Awards before…

Enter the Scottish Thistle Awards 2023

SCOTLAND’S licensed trade businesses are being encouraged to enter this year’s Scottish Thistle Awards before entries close on May 12th. …

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SLTA congratulates Scotland’s new First Minister and calls for ‘reset’ with business sector
The SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association), in sending its congratulations to Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s new…

SLTA congratulates Scotland’s new First Minister and calls for ‘reset’ with business sector

The SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association), in sending its congratulations to Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s new First Minister, has called for…

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Spring Budget a ‘good start’ for hospitality but more support needed, says SLTA
The (SLTA) Scottish Licensed Trade Association has welcomed the announcement by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, in…

Spring Budget a ‘good start’ for hospitality but more support needed, says SLTA

The (SLTA) Scottish Licensed Trade Association has welcomed the announcement by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, in his Spring Budget, that there…

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Time for the Scottish Government to Reset Its Relationship with Scotland’s Alcohol Industry
Peter Lederer, Patron of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, has called for the Scottish Government…

Time for the Scottish Government to Reset Its Relationship with Scotland’s Alcohol Industry

Peter Lederer, Patron of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, has called for the Scottish Government to reset its relationship with…

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SLTA calls for swift action on unanswered questions on DRS
The (SLTA) Scottish Licensed Trade continues to express serious concerns over the deposit return scheme…

SLTA calls for swift action on unanswered questions on DRS

The (SLTA) Scottish Licensed Trade continues to express serious concerns over the deposit return scheme (DRS) ahead of the August…

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Industry Leaders Unite Against Proposed Alcohol Ad Ban

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association, along with 26 other organisations representing all sectors of Scotland's tourism and hospitality industries, have…

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Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme Decoded
With DRS registration having commenced on March 1st, the spotlight is now on Scotland's pubs,…

Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme Decoded

With DRS registration having commenced on March 1st, the spotlight is now on Scotland's pubs, bars, hotels, and late-night venues.…

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Act Now: Proposed Alcohol Advertising Restrictions and their Potentially Devastating Impact on Scotland’s Pubs and Bars
It can’t have escaped anyone’s attention that the Scottish Government has published a public consultation on…

Act Now: Proposed Alcohol Advertising Restrictions and their Potentially Devastating Impact on Scotland’s Pubs and Bars

It can’t have escaped anyone’s attention that the Scottish Government has published a public consultation on potential alcohol advertising and promotions…

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Celebrating the Best of Scottish Tourism: Winners of the Scottish Thistle Awards Announced
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) is proud to have supported the Scottish Thistle Awards…

Celebrating the Best of Scottish Tourism: Winners of the Scottish Thistle Awards Announced

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) is proud to have supported the Scottish Thistle Awards National Final, which took place…

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Complete the Tourism Industry Business Barometer Survey
As a member of the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA), the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA)…

Complete the Tourism Industry Business Barometer Survey

As a member of the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA), the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) would like to share the…

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SLTA Survey Highlights Challenges Facing Scottish Pubs and Bars
Scotland’s pubs and bars face ‘a tidal wave of economic challenges’ as sector calls for…

SLTA Survey Highlights Challenges Facing Scottish Pubs and Bars

Scotland’s pubs and bars face ‘a tidal wave of economic challenges’ as sector calls for urgent, increased government support to…

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Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme – hospitality guide
Guidance for businesses in the hospitality sector that sell drinks in containers covered by Scotland's…

Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme – hospitality guide

Guidance for businesses in the hospitality sector that sell drinks in containers covered by Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme. Under the…

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Deposit Return Scheme Workshop Roadshow 2023 – Register Today
With Producer Registration well underway and Return Point Operator Registration opening in March, (includes operators…

Deposit Return Scheme Workshop Roadshow 2023 – Register Today

With Producer Registration well underway and Return Point Operator Registration opening in March, (includes operators of the “closed loop” scheme…

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UK Government’s new Energy Bill Discount Scheme leads to vastly reduced support for struggling operators
From the 1st of April 2023 all eligible non-domestic customers who have a contract with a…

UK Government’s new Energy Bill Discount Scheme leads to vastly reduced support for struggling operators

From the 1st of April 2023 all eligible non-domestic customers who have a contract with a licensed energy supplier will see…

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SLTA 2023 Business Impact Survey
What are the biggest challenges and issues your business is facing in 2023? Have your…

SLTA 2023 Business Impact Survey

What are the biggest challenges and issues your business is facing in 2023? Have your say with our national Business Impact…

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Business Rates Update
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) is pleased to share an update from Gerald Eve…

Business Rates Update

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) is pleased to share an update from Gerald Eve on the Scottish Government's recent…

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SLTA warns of “winter of discontent” for Scotland’s licensed trade and hospitality industry
The SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association) has issued its strongest warning yet that the licensed…

SLTA warns of “winter of discontent” for Scotland’s licensed trade and hospitality industry

The SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association) has issued its strongest warning yet that the licensed trade and hospitality industry north…

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Hospitality businesses ‘desperately need’ business rates support to stay viable
Scottish budget should at least match Chancellor’s support for pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels or…

Hospitality businesses ‘desperately need’ business rates support to stay viable

Scottish budget should at least match Chancellor’s support for pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels or many will not survive the…

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ScotHot 2023
This year ScotHot are celebrating 50 years of providing an unmissable opportunity for businesses in…

ScotHot 2023

This year ScotHot are celebrating 50 years of providing an unmissable opportunity for businesses in the food, drink, hospitality, and…

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Draft 2023 Revaluation Rateable Values in Scotland portal now live
Draft 2023 Rateable Values for non-domestic properties are now available.   You can now access the information…

Draft 2023 Revaluation Rateable Values in Scotland portal now live

Draft 2023 Rateable Values for non-domestic properties are now available.   You can now access the information for your premises here and follow the…

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Chancellor’s Autumn Statement
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association has expressed grave concern for the future of many hospitality…

Chancellor’s Autumn Statement

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association has expressed grave concern for the future of many hospitality businesses, stating the Chancellor Jeremy…

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Scotland’s pubs and bars face ‘unprecedented challenges’
Scotland’s pubs and bars face ‘unprecedented challenges’ as sector calls for urgent increased government support…

Scotland’s pubs and bars face ‘unprecedented challenges’

Scotland’s pubs and bars face ‘unprecedented challenges’ as sector calls for urgent increased government support to survive winter months. The…

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Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme – All You Need To Know! – Free Conference
Circularity Scotland, the body responsible for the operation of Scotland's deposit return scheme, is planning…

Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme – All You Need To Know! – Free Conference

Circularity Scotland, the body responsible for the operation of Scotland's deposit return scheme, is planning a free to attend Deposit…

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Chancellor’s Mini-Budget is ‘too little, too late’
Earlier today the UK Chancellor delivered a Mini-Budget Statement and a copy of this can…

Chancellor’s Mini-Budget is ‘too little, too late’

Earlier today the UK Chancellor delivered a Mini-Budget Statement and a copy of this can be found here. The SLTA released…

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Scots hospitality businesses warn Energy Bill Relief Scheme ‘goes no way near enough’
The UK Government has announced an Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic energy customers to…

Scots hospitality businesses warn Energy Bill Relief Scheme ‘goes no way near enough’

The UK Government has announced an Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic energy customers to protect businesses, charities and public…

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What are the biggest challenges and issues your business is facing right now?
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association is inviting all licensees to take part in our Business…

What are the biggest challenges and issues your business is facing right now?

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association is inviting all licensees to take part in our Business Impact Survey on the unprecedented…

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Hospitality businesses need urgent help amid soaring energy costs, warns SLTA
Following the announcement today that the domestic energy cap is to rise by 80% to…

Hospitality businesses need urgent help amid soaring energy costs, warns SLTA

Following the announcement today that the domestic energy cap is to rise by 80% to £3546 and with the likelihood…

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Edinburgh hospitality sector takes centre stage as festival season gets under way
With both the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe about to get under way,…

Edinburgh hospitality sector takes centre stage as festival season gets under way

With both the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe about to get under way, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association…

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BofE interest rate increase could be ‘final straw’ for some hospitality businesses
With the hospitality sector continuing to face a slow recovery from the pandemic and more…

BofE interest rate increase could be ‘final straw’ for some hospitality businesses

With the hospitality sector continuing to face a slow recovery from the pandemic and more recent challenges presented by the…

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Scottish Licensed Trade Association calls for VAT cut
Scottish Licensed Trade Association calls for VAT cut to support hospitality businesses as inflation soars.…

Scottish Licensed Trade Association calls for VAT cut

Scottish Licensed Trade Association calls for VAT cut to support hospitality businesses as inflation soars. As prices continue to rise…

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Don’t be caught out by rates deadline
Billing authorities are now enforcing strict payment deadlines with business rates. Whereby, if payment is…

Don’t be caught out by rates deadline

Billing authorities are now enforcing strict payment deadlines with business rates. Whereby, if payment is late in consecutive months or…

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Assessor Information Notices
The Scottish Assessors have been issuing Assessor Information Notices (AINs) since summer 2021 in order…

Assessor Information Notices

The Scottish Assessors have been issuing Assessor Information Notices (AINs) since summer 2021 in order to obtain information they require…

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Rail strike will contribute to a ‘perfect storm’ for Scottish hospitality businesses this summer
With a UK-wide rail strike scheduled to take place next week, the Scottish licensed trade…

Rail strike will contribute to a ‘perfect storm’ for Scottish hospitality businesses this summer

With a UK-wide rail strike scheduled to take place next week, the Scottish licensed trade is warning that the impact…

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How to achieve net zero emissions in your business 10 step checklist
Get insights from a team of sustainability specialists on what it takes to reach net…

How to achieve net zero emissions in your business 10 step checklist

Get insights from a team of sustainability specialists on what it takes to reach net zero and read the 10-step…

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Chancellor must do more to support struggling businesses, says SLTA
The announcement by UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlining measures to address the rising cost of…

Chancellor must do more to support struggling businesses, says SLTA

The announcement by UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlining measures to address the rising cost of living is good news for…

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Single-use plastics: new laws come into force in June 2022
The new regulations on single-use plastics/expanded polystyrene cups are coming into force on 01 June…

Single-use plastics: new laws come into force in June 2022

The new regulations on single-use plastics/expanded polystyrene cups are coming into force on 01 June 2022. After this date, the…

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Mental Health Awareness Week resources
This Mental Health Awareness Week don’t forget that there is advice and support available to…

Mental Health Awareness Week resources

This Mental Health Awareness Week don’t forget that there is advice and support available to hospitality and tourism businesses. For…

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STA Launches most comprehensive study into economic conditions of Scotland’s Tourism
The Scottish Tourism Alliance launched their most comprehensive study into the challenges and opportunities for…

STA Launches most comprehensive study into economic conditions of Scotland’s Tourism

The Scottish Tourism Alliance launched their most comprehensive study into the challenges and opportunities for the sector ahead of this…

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Scottish Thistle Awards 2022-23
The Scottish Thistle Awards are returning for 2022-23 to recognise and honour the very best…

Scottish Thistle Awards 2022-23

The Scottish Thistle Awards are returning for 2022-23 to recognise and honour the very best individuals, businesses, partnerships and events…

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New Covid Guidance Notes Following the Lifting of Restrictions

The Scottish Government has produced two new guidance notes following the lifting of Covid restrictions on the 18th of April. Guidance…

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Scottish Government COVID-19 Adaptations Survey
In response to the positive steps taken by businesses and other organisations during the pandemic…

Scottish Government COVID-19 Adaptations Survey

In response to the positive steps taken by businesses and other organisations during the pandemic and the need for them…

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Lifting of Scottish face covering laws confirmed
Final confirmation face coverings no longer a legal requirement to wear in most indoor public…

Lifting of Scottish face covering laws confirmed

Final confirmation face coverings no longer a legal requirement to wear in most indoor public spaces and on public transport…

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Calorie Labelling on Menus – Government Launches Consultation
The public and business are being invited to have their say on plans to add…

Calorie Labelling on Menus – Government Launches Consultation

The public and business are being invited to have their say on plans to add the number of calories to…

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Hospitality 50% Commercial Rates Relief – you MUST apply for this Rates Relief
On the 9th of December Kate Forbes MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, announced…

Hospitality 50% Commercial Rates Relief – you MUST apply for this Rates Relief

On the 9th of December Kate Forbes MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, announced that the licensed trade and…

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Press Enquries

Paul Waterson, SLTA Media Spokesperson, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Scottish Licensed Trade Industry. For any press or media enquiries email info@theslta.co.uk

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