Hitchin & Harpenden’s Member of Parliament Bim Afolami MP has marked Small Business Saturday by paying tribute to fantastic local businesses right across his Hitchin & Harpenden constituency. Small Business Saturday has been celebrated since 2013 in the United Kingdom and the campaign aims to encourage people to shop locally and support the small and independent businesses on their High Streets.
Bim Afolami MP said,
“In Hitchin & Harpenden we are privileged to have a vast number of brilliant small and independent local businesses which can fulfil virtually any need that local people may have. These businesses are at the heart of the thriving high streets we still have in Hitchin, Harpenden and in many of our villages (e.g. Wheathampstead and Sandridge).
“Small Business Saturday is a great time for us all to reflect on the value that our local businesses bring to our communities. Not only do they employ local people and drive economic growth in our area, they also add huge amenity for residents by providing useful services and shopping options that we would all miss should they leave our high streets. A lot of local businesses also do a lot to give back to the communities that they are embedded in too.
“This winter is a particularly challenging time for all of us, with rising energy costs and inflation hitting local people and businesses. As your local Member of Parliament, I am doing all that I can to support local businesses to get through this difficult period. But it is also vitally important that local people continue to shop local and show our local small and independent businesses the support that they have from our community.
“I would encourage everyone in Hitchin & Harpenden to mark Small Business Saturday by getting down to their local high street and supporting a small business today.”
