Ambitious plans are being pursued to open up the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card to more people in more places.
Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) – with support from the Scottish Government – is working alongside Perth-headquartered fintech Miconex to broaden the initiative’s reach.
Behind-the-scenes work is underway on enhancing the technology behind the gift card to make it even more accessible to people, opening further opportunities for businesses and enhancing the national community wealth building agenda.
Plans are also being developed to market the cards internationally to the major Scottish diaspora market, creating opportunities with heritage attractions and enhancing its use on the transport network.
Speaking as the wider Scotland Loves Local initiative marks its fifth anniversary, STP Chair Professor Leigh Sparks said: “The gift card has morphed and expanded and we have ambitions about where we would like to go with that.
“The more we can think about how we use the card in more places – more different types of places – across Scotland, the more that reinforces the sense of place, but also how people tie into place. That’s the important thing about the gift card and Scotland Loves Local.”
The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card was launched four years ago – with spending via them now in excess of £16m.
More than 6293 businesses across Scotland – ranging from small independent businesses to major store chains and visitor attractions, all with a physical presence in local communities – accept the cards.
The most successful schemes see local authorities working with Miconex to spearhead the regional cards in their area, providing people with a means by which to spend directly with businesses in their area; keeping money local for longer. Some have even used them to provide direct financial help to families.
Increasingly, corporates and other organisations are embracing the cards as employee or volunteer rewards, using them as a means by which to recognise effort and achievement, while also supporting other enterprises locally.
Boosting regional economies: How the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card is making a difference
Prof Sparks said: “The gift card is an interesting opportunity. We see it being used in a range of places being used in different ways. It’s about locking that spend into a local area.
“It’s about local spending. That ties in with the sense of community currency, community wealth building and keeping the ecosystem of money in the local area.”
On the gift card’s integration into the wider Scotland Loves Local campaign, encouraging people to choose local and get behind local businesses to create stronger communities, Prof Sparks added: “Everyone recognises that sense of Scotland Loves Local. Over the five years, we’ve taken good steps; I think it’s been positive.
“An awful lot of money has been spent through the card. Councils have been using the card to get money into communities. We’ve shown what can be done.
“It’s now about accelerating that, getting more people involved and taking it further.
“In five years, Scotland Loves Local has come a long way.”
STP Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie continues to work closely with Miconex on the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card’s ongoing evolution, including technical advancements to enhance the user experience.
She said: “So many benefits have been delivered for local economies – and local people – through the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card.
“The most exciting thing is that there’s so much that can be achieved through the gift card. We’re working with all kinds of partners to be really innovative and help enable the potential that we know is there.
“Money that’s spent locally stays local for longer. The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card is the perfect means by which to help achieve that.”
