Business leaders backing campaign (From Worcester News)

Business leaders backing campaign

9:50am Friday 24th April 2009 in News

BUSINESS leaders have welcomed your Worcester News’s Buy Local scheme.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is backing our drive to support independent businesses and promote local produce.

In March 2008, in response to the House of Commons projection that 50,000 independent high street retailers will close by 2015, the FSB launched its own national campaign and online petition for local trade.

Ken Wigfield, chairman of FSB Worcestershire, said: “You only need to look at your local high street to witness the slow death of the local community. The grocers, butchers and newsagents that contributed to the lifeblood of our towns have been replaced by empty facades, fast-food joints or charity shops.”

Mr Wigfield added: “For some years now, small shops in town centres and rural areas have come under pressure from poor local planning decisions, free out-of-town parking, unfavourable business rates and sharp practices by supermarkets. “This matters for a number of reasons. Thriving small shops attract customers, which increases the footfall for surrounding businesses.

“No local shops can mean no post office, no pub and fewer local services.”

Small retailers return more than 50 per cent of their profits back into the local community.

The FSB, like many other organisations which have pledged support for our Buy Local campaign, recognises that shopping locally is better for the environment.

The group has also called for local planners to understand the needs of the local community, a review of business rates in town centres and an end to unfair commercial practices, such as below-cost-selling.

Also pledging his support for our campaign, Mike Ashton, chief executive of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We support every positive action which encourages local businesses to support fellow local businesses.

“At this time in particular it is important to support businesses closer to home.” For more details about the work of the FSB, call Angela Smith on 01386 750032.

• Click the following link to download your own printable poster - buylocal_poster.pdf
• Click here to return to the main Buy Local page.