Stevenson Backs Small Business Saturday

Stewart Stevenson, SNP MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast, is supporting the non-commercial campaign Small Business Saturday UK which takes place this Saturday, 6th December.

For the second year in a row, the campaign hopes to have a lasting effect on the local economy by asking people to shop within their own communities. Over £460 million was spent in small enterprises across the UK on Small Business Saturday in 2013, and the campaign is hoping to build on their success this year.

Mr Stevenson said:

“I am very happy to be supporting Small Business Saturday. Small businesses are at the heart of Scotland’s economy and it is vitally important that we back them by shopping local whenever we can.

“The Banffshire and Buchan Coast has a wide variety of smaller enterprises, shops, and entrepreneurs in the retail and food and drink industries. It is an exciting area to shop local, with the added benefit that you are also boosting the local economy.

“The SNP has a strong track record on support for business which is one that the Government is determined to continue to deliver. Despite tough economic times, businesses in Scotland continue to benefit from the most competitive business tax regime in the UK.”

The initiative is supported by The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Andy Willox, the FSB’s Scottish policy convenor, added:

“It doesn’t matter if you’re putting in an order for Christmas dinner, buying a gift for a loved one or meeting a friend for a coffee or beer, we’d love it if Scots supported Small Business Saturday for a second year.

“Independent retailers and other small enterprises often offer goods and services which you can’t find elsewhere. Small Business Saturday offers a real opportunity to connect phenomenal small businesses with locals who perhaps aren’t aware of the great small businesses on their doorstep.”