Mayor hails ‘backbone of our communities’ on Small Business Saturday visit to Newark

Support our small businesses is the message from the Mayor of the East Midlands as she hailed them as the “backbone of our communities”.

Mayor Claire Ward marked Small Business Saturday by visiting a string of independent traders in Newark, including Gannets Daycafe and Bistrot and gift shop Beau & Brooke.

Small Business Saturday is a national celebration of the UK’s entrepreneurs, with the country’s 5.7 million small firms employing 60 per cent of the UK workforce and generating £2.8 trillion in turnover.

Mayor Claire said: “It was absolutely beautiful in Newark. There was so much going on with the market, the Christmas market and also the Newark Steampunk Christmas festival.

“I was there to support our small businesses, particularly in the run up to Christmas, and I want to urge everyone across the East Midlands to back the brilliant independent shops, cafés, artisans and services that make our cities, towns and villages so special.

“These small businesses are the backbone of our communities — they create jobs, sustain local pride and give our high streets their character. Every pound spent locally helps keep a job, supports a family and strengthens the fabric of neighbourhoods. So, let’s shop local, champion our traders and show that we believe in an East Midlands built from the ground up.”

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday, which takes place on the first Saturday in December, encourages the nation to show their support for small businesses, particularly by spending and shopping small. This year, it comes as new data shows that supporting small businesses this festive season could deliver a £5 billion boost for small and medium-sized enterprises, with spending expected to rise 19 per cent.

Michelle Ovens, director of Small Business Saturday, said: “Small businesses are the nation’s favourites businesses and they are essential to both their communities and the whole economy. Indeed, our research with American Express found 95 per cent of people feel small businesses add value to local areas and 84 per cent believe the nation needs to support them.

“At this crucial time of year for many small firms, it is vital that the nation remembers their favourite small businesses and goes out to support them.”