Small businesses across the UK are gearing up for this year’s annual Small Business Saturday, which is taking place on December 6th. The day event, which was launched in the UK only last year, shines a spotlight on the nation’s small and medium-sized companies. It encourages people to shop at small independent businesses in their local area and celebrate small businesses’ contribution to their local economies
With Christmas fast approaching, it is a key time in the commercial calendar and the event provides a fantastic opportunity for us, the consumer, to actively support our local communities whilst offering small firms the opportunity for visibility and promotion.
Small businesses play a vital role in our communities and make a valuable contribution to the local economy. Independent small businesses and the people who run them help make my constituency what it is. They offer consumers a greater choice and contribute to the unique character of the area. Business owners work incredibly hard to keep their businesses going and offer us a reliable service.
Whilst the day itself takes place on the first shopping Saturday in December each year, the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses. Small Business Saturday will not transform the fortunes of our small businesses on its own, but it does give us all a special opportunity to ‘keep it local’ and thereby do our bit to ensure those who take risks, set up shop and provide jobs in our local communities get the recognition they deserve.
I shall be visiting businesses in Kenilworth and supporting ‘Bought in Kenilworth’, another initiative that is encouraging residents to buy one Christmas present in our town.
As a nation, we do not celebrate nearly enough what small businesses do; they provide employment, contribute to their local community through supporting projects, give up their time for charity and help young people to get on the jobs ladder. They deserve our recognition and that is why I am supporting these excellent schemes.