Small businesses across Wolverhampton have been commended by Wolverhampton North East MP Jane Stevenson and West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, as the UK marked Small Business Saturday on 5th December.
Visiting local shops in Three Tuns, Jane and Andy praised small businesses across the city for stepping in to support the local community throughout 2020.
This year, Small Business Saturday comes at the end of a hugely challenging period for small businesses, with many facing long periods of closure and reduced income due to the pandemic.
And now retail shops in England can open under the tiered system of restrictions, Jane and Andy are urging people to get out and support them in the run-up to Christmas.
Jane said: “There is no doubt that 2020 has been an incredibly challenging year for small businesses in Wolverhampton, which are the backbone of our local communities.
“I know that many local businesses have stepped up to help those in need throughout the pandemic, and I pay tribute to them. As a passionate supporter of small business, I am urging everyone in Wolverhampton to get out and support our high streets and local shops in the run up to Christmas.
“Our West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has also been lobbying the Government for financial support for small businesses, and I was delighted that he could join me in Wolverhampton to celebrate Small Business Saturday.”
Mayor Andy Street said: “The Covid-19 crisis has shown just how important our local shops and high streets are in providing such an important role in communities.
“The immense changes in retail mean that having independent differentiated shops and businesses are crucial to the future of the high streets’ survival so we need to use them or lose them.
“Wolverhampton has a huge array of small businesses, and I want to see them pull through this crisis so I echo Jane’s call to support them where you can in the run up to Christmas and beyond.”
ENDS
