This has been a transformative year for the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, where our efforts to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, support our members, and advocate for a fair business environment have positioned us as an even stronger voice within Scotland’s tourism industry. I’m excited to present an overview of our activities and achievements over the past year, highlighting our growth, our advocacy milestones, and our vision for the future.
Membership Overview
Our membership levels this year reflect both the challenges and the commitment of the industry. We saw an attrition rate of 12%, mostly tied to members joining last year around the STL deadline, but we also welcomed new members, offsetting this loss with a 7% increase. This shows a positive level of interest and confidence in the support ASSC offers, even amid tighter regulations.
Our June Member Benefit Survey yielded essential insights: advocacy and lobbying remain the most valued services, with 87% of respondents satisfied with their membership. It’s clear that ASSC’s work in keeping members informed, providing educational opportunities, and connecting our community is deeply valued. These findings guide our service focus moving forward, especially around expanding member engagement and advocating for balanced regulations.
Key Advocacy and Legal Milestones
This year, advocacy has truly been at the heart of our work. As you know, we’ve been actively engaged with the Scottish Government, councils, and tourism bodies to address regulatory issues that impact our members, most notably around STL licensing. Our team’s work in challenging policies that adversely affected our members led to landmark legal victories, particularly against City of Edinburgh Council. Courts ruled their STL licensing policies, including the issuance of three-month suspension notices and planning requirements, as unlawful. These decisions set essential precedents for fairer treatment across Scotland, easing the path for many of our members.
Our advocacy did not stop there. We actively participated in consultations and hearings on the Visitor Levy, submitting evidence that reflects the concerns and needs of self-catering businesses. We joined forces with organizations like the Scottish Tourism Alliance, working to limit undue burdens and ensure that new regulations support, rather than hinder, Scotland’s tourism economy. This advocacy underscores our mission to protect our members from unfair policy impacts, particularly those facing increased costs and barriers due to complex STL requirements.
We’ve also tackled the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry, presenting ASSC’s role and contributions during the pandemic. The Inquiry will consider the critical evidence we submitted in June on behalf of the sector, and we look forward to representing our members in upcoming hearings in December. By ensuring the self-catering sector’s voice is heard in these discussions, we continue to highlight our industry’s resilience and economic contributions.
Financial and Operational Strength
Turning to our finances, I’m pleased to report that ASSC remains financially stable and forward-looking. With a Year-to-Date Operating Profit of £199,808 and a current bank balance of £238,569, we are on track to meet our targets, supported by effective resource management and cost controls. Our diverse income streams, including membership dues, marketing subscriptions, and business partnerships, have helped us weather economic challenges. Our partnerships have expanded internationally, with 80 active partners, underscoring ASSC’s position as a vital player in the self-catering and tourism industry worldwide.
The projected end-of-year surplus is a strong indicator of our operational health, which allows us to reinvest in member services, pursue new initiatives, and broaden our reach. We are constantly evaluating new opportunities to grow these streams sustainably, providing value for both our members and partners.
Member Engagement and Service Enhancements
Member engagement has been high this year, with ASSC talks, CEO surgeries, and guidance materials receiving strong participation. The feedback from members has highlighted the importance of tailored services, especially in marketing, networking, and support for smaller operators. Our regional events, including those in Oban and Glasgow, provided valuable opportunities for face-to-face connection and collaboration. We’ve seen strong interest in these gatherings and are exploring options to expand them to other regions.
We also listened closely to member feedback on financial accessibility, especially for small operators managing just one or two properties. Many voiced the need for a sliding fee scale, which we are now seriously exploring. Offering a more tiered membership model would help us retain these small-scale members who may otherwise feel financially burdened by the current structure. This aligns with our commitment to inclusivity and supporting the full range of operators in our community.
New Initiatives and Strategic Direction
Looking ahead, our plans include a range of new initiatives designed to enhance our services and support members’ evolving needs. One exciting project in development is the Recognition of Excellence scheme. This member-driven quality assurance program aims to maintain high standards across Scotland’s self-catering industry, especially important with the discontinuation of VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance scheme. This initiative would showcase our members’ commitment to quality and reinforce Scotland’s reputation for exceptional guest experiences.
Additionally, we’re working to rebrand and enhance the EmbraceScotland platform, focusing on providing stronger marketing support and personalized services that address member needs. We aim to ensure this platform is not only an effective marketing tool but also a hub for industry knowledge and trends. Through targeted marketing strategies and new resources like SEO guidance, we hope to better equip our members to attract guests and grow their businesses.
Long-Term Vision for Advocacy and Growth
As we move into 2025, ASSC’s advocacy efforts will remain a priority. We anticipate continued discussions with both national and local governments, particularly around STL licensing reforms, to secure a regulatory environment that is fair, practical, and supportive of sustainable growth in Scotland’s tourism sector. We will also be working to influence the impact of the Visitor Levy, supporting our members as they navigate these changes.
Furthermore, ASSC is strengthening its role within tourism advisory bodies to champion our members’ needs and help shape tourism policies that support local economies. Our recent partnerships, such as our MoU with the Professional Association of Self-Caterers, are examples of how we plan to strengthen ties within the UK to bolster our industry-wide advocacy and data-sharing efforts. By combining our resources and knowledge, we aim to better anticipate regulatory challenges and prepare our members for future shifts.
We face ongoing regulatory challenges from both the Scottish and UK Governments, and our role in advocacy, lobbying continues to be essential to the very existence of our members. This comes with significant demands in terms of legal advice, public affairs and PR support. None of these come free.
We hope that as a valued member, you see a real return on investment, reinforced by the ASSC’s unparalleled reach, evidence-based outputs, and dedication to advancing the sector in Scotland and beyond. We hope that you understand how important your support is in what we are able to achieve in supporting the sector. In incredibly challenging circumstances, we simply can’t do this without you.
The ASSC has made significant progress in 2024, tackling complex regulatory issues, providing critical member support, and enhancing the services we offer. Our team’s dedication and the strong foundation we’ve built position us well to face the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Through ongoing advocacy, enhanced member services, and strategic partnerships, we aim to foster a resilient, innovative, and sustainable self-catering sector that continues to be a cornerstone of Scotland’s tourism economy. We cannot underestimate our gratitude for the trust and commitment shown by our members.
Wishing the sector growth and success in 2025!