03/29/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

Neil Hamilton MS, backs national initiative to support small businesses and shop locally

NEIL HAMILTON, MS for Mid & West Wales and Leader of UKIP Wales, wants people in his Region to support small businesses and shop locally in the run up to Christmas.

Mr Hamilton, a member of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs committee, is backing a national initiative, which is running for the eighth year in a row, culminating in Small Business Saturday on December 5.
To promote the event the Small Business Saturday ‘virtual’ tour is currently travelling across the UK calling at 30 different towns and cities, over five weeks, including North and Mid Wales.
Mr Hamilton said:

“We live in extremely challenging times as we continue to battle against Covid–19 and I welcome any initiatives which help to support local businesses.

“I have always been a great supporter of this annual event, which inspires more and more people to support local business and buy locally sourced food and other products from their community.

“Promotion for this event usually launches with a Small Business Saturday Bus Tour of the UK. However, due to coronavirus this year it is being held on-line.

“Small Business Saturday UK is a fantastic initiative which has proved highly successful and very important for our local economy.

“I am delighted to see the ‘virtual tour’ will feature Haverfordwest in my Region, on Monday November 16 from 10am – 2pm and local companies should take advantage of free business advice sessions which will be on offer on-line.

“We obviously do not know yet what restrictions will be placed on us over the coming months but I would urge all communities to celebrate the day and support their own small businesses in the run up to Christmas and beyond.”

This year the organisation will visit more locations than ever before, showcasing hundreds of small businesses across our social media channels.

Beginning in Inverness on Monday November 2, the tour travels the country, finishing in London on Wednesday December2.

With the help of tour supporter, BT Skills for Tomorrow, there will be free 1-2-1 online mentoring sessions and daily workshops, offering help and advice small businesses in these challenging times.

Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-political, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.

An estimated £800m was spent in small businesses across the UK on 2019’s Small Business Saturday, with 17.6 million people turning out, a record for the campaign and an increase of more than four million people from 2018.

Small Business Saturday also drew high engagement on social media, with #SmallBizSatUK and #SmallBusinessSaturday the UK’s top two trends throughout the day.

Politicians including the Prime Minister, leader of the opposition and the Mayor of London all publicly supported Small Business Saturday.

For more information or to get involved with Small Business Saturday visit the Facebook page or the website www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com

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