Emma has joined Shadow B
usiness Secretary Angela Eagle MP in celebrating the contribution of small firms in South Shields as part of this year’s Small Business Saturday on December 5th. Consumers are being encouraged to ‘shop small’ and celebrate the contribution of entrepreneurs and small firms that weekend.
Launched in 2013, Small Business Saturday brought a boost to local high streets across the country. In 2014, 16.5 million Britons visited a local independent store – 2.7m more than in the previous year. Across the UK different activities are taking place to promote Britain’s small businesses.
Emma is again backing local businesses to take advantage of the campaign on this key shopping day in the run-up to Christmas, and she is encouraging local people to shop locally in small firms as part of Small Business Saturday. Emma also wrote to the Chief Executive of South Tyneside Council to request that parking is free in Shields on Saturday 5th December to help boost trade, and was delighted that the Council have committed to doing so.
Emma said:
“We have some great small businesses in Shields and I am looking forward to backing our local small shops and independent retailers. Small Business Saturday matters more now than ever, since 2010 we have seen a decline in our High Streets under the Tory Government who have refused repeated calls to review business rates and whose punitive policies have left people with less money to spend in their local areas. Small Business Saturday gives us an opportunity to do all we can to thank our great small businesses for the continued vital contribution they make to our economy.”
Angela Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, said:
“Small Business Saturday is growing bigger and better every year, it’s such an important day because it puts small businesses in the spotlight and encourages people to shop locally, not only on one of the busiest shopping days of the year but also to encourage a long-term commitment. It provides a great opportunity to thank those who run Britain’s small firms. Labour wants to do more to help our risk takers and wealth creators, by helping businesses with the challenges they face on issues like access to finance and late payments. We’ll work in partnership with businesses, entrepreneurs and workers to create a stronger economy.”