Stratford District Council wins small business award

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has won the 'Best Small Business Friendly Keeping Trade Local Campaign' as part of the Federation of Small Businesses Local Authority Awards, for its Small Business Saturday Campaign.

The awards provide an opportunity for all Councils in Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull to make known any project or initiative that promotes and champions local economic development.

There were three awards which focused on small business friendliness:

• Best 'Small Business Friendly' Procurement Policy
• Best 'Small Business Friendly' Programme or Campaign
• Best all round 'Small Business Friendliness'

The District Council's Small Business Saturday Campaign was run in conjunction with the UK Campaign on 7 December 2013 encouraging people to shop local and support small businesses in their communities. 

As part of the campaign children took over a group of independent shops in the Minories courtyard in Stratford-upon-Avon. A restaurant, sewing shop, hair and beauty salon were among those under new management for the day.

Cllr Maurice Howse, Enterprise, Housing and Revenues Portfolio says: “I really enjoyed meeting the young people in The Minories running their family business for the day, they were amazing.  It is important that the District Council does its bit in this tough economic climate for the small business community.  The District Council values the role that small businesses have in the District and small businesses often form into bigger businesses.  It is rewarding for all those involved to be recognised by this award by the Federation of Small Businesses."

These awards form part of the Federation of Small Businesses Real-Life Entrepreneur Campaign, which was launched in 2011 to ensure that at every level of Government - national and local, entrepreneurs are viewed as potential wealth, growth and job creators of the future.