Assessing Budget 2025
Whilst there will be a lot of concern about this years budget, LECE have to look for positives in how it can further our ambitions for a business park. James Struthers (Chair LECE) makes this early assessment.
The UK Government’s Budget announcement this week confirmed that Scotland will receive an additional £820 million over the next few years through a combination of resource and capital spending allocations. While this uplift is modest compared to the overall scale of Scottish public finances, it arrives at a time when many community initiatives—especially in rural areas—are facing pressure from rising costs, demand for services, and overstretched local authorities. For community-driven organisations such as Loch Ewe Community Enterprise (LECE), the Budget could create new opportunities, depending on how the Scottish Government chooses to deploy the funds.
1. Potential for enhanced community investment and rural development
A portion of the additional funding is tied to capital budgets, meaning that—if channelled effectively—it could enable new support for infrastructure, community buildings, village assets, and local regeneration projects. Organisations like LECE, which are working to develop community-owned facilities and deliver local economic resilience, could see improved access to grants or matched-funding opportunities. Rural regions such as Wester Ross often depend on targeted funding streams to support upgrades to halls, shared workspaces, community venues, or new multipurpose hubs. A strengthened capital settlement increases the likelihood of these types of opportunities becoming available over the medium term.
2. Reduced pressure on councils, improving the environment for collaboration
Much of the new funding comes through the general resource block grant—money that supports public services delivered by councils. If local authorities experience a slight easing of financial pressure, this can indirectly benefit community organisations. It may help stabilise planning departments, maintain essential infrastructure, or preserve small but significant council-supported schemes. For LECE, which interacts with local authorities on planning, land use, licensing, community asset transfer, and economic-development issues, a more stable council environment could lead to smoother collaboration and quicker decision-making. While not guaranteed, any reduction in local service strain creates better conditions for grassroots projects to progress.
3. Improved household resilience, supporting participation in community life
Beyond institutional funding, the Budget also removed the “two-child benefit cap,” a measure expected to lift incomes for many families across Scotland. For rural communities, where household budgets are often tight, this could translate into greater participation in local events, community programmes, and volunteering. A financially healthier population is typically more able to support community initiatives, contribute ideas, attend meetings, and engage in local democratic processes. For organisations like LECE, which rely on strong community engagement, this could help broaden and strengthen local involvement.
4. Alignment with broader national goals on regeneration and social value
Scotland is placing increasing emphasis on community-wealth-building, local resilience, and community-owned assets. The Budget’s uplift doesn’t explicitly earmark funds for these areas, but it does give the Scottish Government slightly more room to manoeuvre. This could create stronger conditions for community enterprises to position themselves within national priorities—including sustainable local economies, net-zero transition, rural repopulation, and empowered local decision-making. LECE’s vision aligns closely with these agendas, and a more flexible fiscal environment may increase the appetite for government-supported community regeneration initiatives.
Of course, the £820m is not a dedicated fund for community enterprises, and decisions will ultimately depend on Scottish Government priorities. Parts of the funding will inevitably be absorbed by health, education, and core public services. But even so, the Budget provides a modest yet meaningful opportunity: it slightly widens the space in which rural community projects can grow, innovate, and secure support. For organisations like LECE, this is a moment to articulate their value clearly—positioning themselves as part of the solution to Scotland’s long-term challenges in rural sustainability, local economic resilience, and community empowerment.
