Sir Gavin Williamson took part in Small Business Saturday on the 2nd December, a celebration up and down the nation of local businesses in the run up to Christmas.
Sir Gavin took to the high streets in Stone, Penkridge and Kinver on Saturday to support local retailers in Staffordshire as part of a national campaign which has taken place every year since 2013. Sir Gavin visited the farmers market in Stone, market in Penkridge, and the high street in Kinver, where he marvelled at the wonderful local produce and gifts on display. In recent years it has been particularly important to support small businesses in the aftermath of Covid-19, which struck small businesses owners particularly harshly.
Small businesses like the community pub, local butcher or coffee shop make up over 99% of UK business and account for over half of business turnover and employment. In South Staffordshire particularly, the pub industry accounts for a large proportion of employment. Small Business Saturday has made a big difference to these local employers, accumulating over £1 billion in revenue in recent years.
Sir Gavin said: “Small businesses lie at the heart of Staffordshire communities, and the friendly faces of local business owners are the constant which keeps community spirit alive. I always try and shop locally, but in the lead up to Christmas there is such an opportunity to find unique gifts and sample local foods made just around the corner. I had a really enjoyable day on Saturday visiting the markets and would highly recommend a festive day out meeting and celebrating the families that sell such wonderful produce.”
