We would like to take the opportunity to say thank you to those who attended the ASSC’s final Regional Get Together for 2023 and joined us in celebrating our 45th anniversary.

On the day, we were pleased to be joined by our Partners for Business, the Cumberland Building Society and STL Solutions who are fully committed to supporting self-catering accommodation owners in Scotland.

Craig Douglas, Director of STL Solutions said:

“It was wonderful to see the community attend the ASSC meet up celebrating 45 years.

It was refreshing to meet with Grant Seaton, Head of Intermediary Lending at the Cumberland Building Society. I can’t imagine that level of personal touch and ease of access being given by any of the other major lenders.
Grant was very open to the plight of some of his customers who are operating in the 8 Local Authority regions in Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow, East Lothian, Aberdeen City, Inverclyde, Perth and Kinross, Argyle and Bute, The Highlands and Dundee) which have been particularly affected by the new licensing legislation with the risk of some operators closing down.

Grant was very open to hearing that STLsolutions.co.uk had a better solution for operators, applying for a Certificate of Lawfulness for Existing Use (COL) instead of a Full Planning application.

While Planning Applications are likely to face rejection from the Local Planning Department, a COL effectively addresses and overcomes this hurdle.

A COL carries no guarantees but operators stand a significantly higher probability of success compared to Full Planning permission.

We have been delighted by the Cumberland Building Society’s response to the work we are doing and are pleased to be part of this joint newsletter. If you want or need to find out more please visit STLsolutions.co.uk”.

Grant Seaton, Head of Intermediary Lending at The Cumberland, added:

“It was a pleasure to sponsor and attend the ASSC’s final Regional Get Together of the year in Edinburgh.

There was a fantastic energy in the room despite the headwinds facing business owners, and it was a great opportunity to meet ASSC members and other Partners for Business.
We are proud to have a long-standing relationship with the ASSC which helps us support self-catering accommodation owners throughout Scotland.

It was a pleasure to speak with Craig Douglas from STL Solutions and hear about the fantastic work he and his team are doing to support businesses during a particularly difficult time for the sector. Like STL Solutions, The Cumberland remains committed to supporting self-catering accommodation owners in Scotland.

Our proposition is based on offering a high level of customer service via real people who are experts in lending to self-catering businesses. We manually underwrite and review each case on its own merit and our customers have access to real people during their journey with us. If we can help you and your business in any way, please do get in touch.

I look forward to seeing some of you at next year’s ASSC events.”

ASSC Events 2024 – Save the Date!

If you are a member of the ASSC community, your membership package comes with exclusive benefits that include complimentary access to ASSC regional gatherings and enlightening virtual ‘talks’. We’re thrilled to extend a preview of what’s in store for you in 2024 – mark your calendars for these must-attend events!”

Regional Gatherings 2024: Look forward to networking, exploring exhibitors, learning and the continued celebrations of 45 years of the ASSC!

• Perth: 22nd April
• Oban: 3rd September
• Glasgow: 12th November

Additionally, we’re excited to announce our partnership with the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) and the Association of Scotland’s Visitor Attractions (ASVA) at their Signature Conference on the 12th-13th of March at the P&J Live in Aberdeen. Ticket sales will commence on December 18th.