Amanda Milling MP: By shopping locally we can help our high streets to thrive
To mark Small Business Saturday, Conservative Party Chairman Amanda Milling, the MP for Cannock Chase, is urging people to shop locally to help boost our high streets. Read her column below.
Today is Small Business Saturday where we celebrate the many fantastic small businesses that physically line our high streets, flood the online world, and manufacture great British products.
This year, more than ever, they deserve our thanks for rolling up their sleeves, adapting their business models and making their businesses Covid-secure.
This, alongside government support has protected millions of jobs and livelihoods.
I know people across the West Midlands are incredibly grateful for how so many small businesses in our region have stepped up this year.
Every year I hold a “Best Retailers of Cannock Chase” competition and more people than ever have voted to demonstrate their support for our local independent shops, cafes, restaurants and market stalls.
The competition highlights stand-out businesses over 12 categories. Mims Moms Coffee and Champagne Bar was crowned as Cannock Chase’s overall winner aware – for the retailer gaining the most votes in total.
Small businesses across the West Midlands are the lifeblood of our communities and make are town centres what they are. I would like to thank everyone who took part and used this competition to celebrate the great small businesses we have on our high streets.
While it is important, we celebrate our small businesses today it is vital that we show our support for them all year round.
They are on every high street in Cannock Chase and are the gems of our retail communities. Many have had a very difficult year and without these businesses, our high streets would not be what they are today.
As we adapt to life in tiers, I know that the next few months will be difficult for small businesses as we continue to work to control the virus over winter, ensuring it doesn’t spiral out of control.
I know that small businesses across the West Midlands are up to the task. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and will play a key role in driving our economic recovery – which is why we’ve provided an unprecedented support package to keep them in business and protect jobs throughout this pandemic.
On Small Business Saturday lets show our support for the many excellent small businesses across Cannock Chase and the West Midlands and when we can shop local and independently so our high streets and economy can thrive.
