On Saturday 7th December, Dame Caroline Dinenage, Member of Parliament for Gosport, Lee on the Solent, Stubbington, and Hill Head, will participate in Small Business Saturday by visiting independent businesses on the Gosport peninsula.
She will also announce the shortlist for her Best Independent Shop Competition, giving people in the Gosport constituency the chance to vote for their favourite out of the top 10 over the following week.
In the wake of Labour’s Budget Jobs Tax, small businesses, which make up over 99% of all UK businesses, need support more than ever before. Spending on Small Business Saturday has topped over £1 billion in recent years.
The day is an opportunity to celebrate the nation’s fantastic 5.5 million small businesses and urge the public to get behind them.
The grassroots, non-commercial campaign celebrates small business success and encourages people to 'shop local' and to support businesses in their communities.
On Small Business Saturday customers across the UK go out and support all types of small businesses, from independent shops and restaurants to small service and b2b based businesses like accountants and digital marketeers.
The campaign is open to all small businesses across the UK, and it is completely free. Many team up to host events, offer promotions or simply use it as an opportunity to engage their customers.
A marketing pack is available from the Small Business Saturday website to help you get involved, and you can also register to be featured on the campaign’s Small Business Finder map at https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/my-small-business.
Speaking ahead of Small Business Saturday, Caroline said:
“Every year, Small Business Saturday appears as the perfect opportunity to support the businesses that keep our communities alive and thriving. With Christmas approaching, consider shopping local for presents, in some of the many great shops we have in Gosport, Lee on the Solent, Stubbington, and Hill Head.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, but the future for them looks bleak after Labour’s punitive tax rises.
“I am running my Best Independent Shop Competition for another year to support and promote local independent shops who need that support more than ever. Their importance to our area deserves to be recognised so I will be crowning one of them Gosport’s Best Independent Shop, joining previous winners A Slice of Vinyl, Alverstoke Village Hardware, and Indelible Ink.
“I’ve already had an incredible 720 responses to my survey, but nominations in the competition are yet to close, so make sure to nominate the independent shop that you feel deserves recognition.”
Michelle Ovens CBE, Director, Small Business Saturday UK said:
“Small Business Saturday is all about supporting and celebrating the UK’s fantastic small businesses and the amazing contribution they make to our local communities, as well as wider society and the economy.
“After a particularly difficult period for small business owners, public support can really make all the difference to help our small firms and local communities thrive. It’s important that we throw our support behind them on Small Business Saturday and beyond.”
ENDS
For more information contact [email protected]
Nominations for Caroline’s best Independent Shop Competition can be submitted at https://www.caroline4gosport.co.uk/bisc24. Nominations close at 6pm Friday 6 December.
