Support self-employed to boost jobs

It has produced interactive maps that show the proportion of people who work for themselves in Scottish towns, cities and suburbs.

Falkirk’s top-performing village is Reddingmuirhead, with 10.19% self-employment, with Dennyloanhead next on 8.5 per cent.

More than half of the areas – including Falkirk itself – have lower levels of self-employment than the national average figure of 6.4%.

Grangemouth has the lowest at 4.2 per cent.

Catriona Cripps said: “Big business and public sector downsizings, alongside new business models powered by digital technology, have resulted in a steady increase in the number of the self-employed.

“Boosting self-employment and business activity could help to turn around some of Falkirk’s most disadvantaged places.”