As Christmas approaches, I’m sure we will all at some point run up and down our highstreets looking for presents for family and friends. This time of year, always reminds me of the hard work of our thriving small business community across the constituency.
This weekend, we mark Small Business Saturday, an annual celebration and an opportunity to champion small businesses across the country. They are not just the backbone of our economy—small businesses are the heart and soul of our communities. They are the beating heart of our economy, creating good jobs, growth, and opportunities.
The past few years have been tough for small businesses, so I’m pleased to see the Government’s commitment to helping small businesses thrive, with a comprehensive plan to support them and revitalise our high streets.
The Government is making our high streets safe and vibrant again, stopping violence against shop workers and transforming derelict town centres as well as supporting small businesses by reducing costs, tackling late payments, and improving access to funding with initiatives like a £250 million allocation to small business loans.
Thriving high streets need banks to serve local businesses and customers. The Government are pressing ahead with their commitment to rolling out banking hubs across the country. In fact, I have recently written to Government Ministers to advocate for a banking hub in the Neston part of the constituency.
The Government are also introducing new Respect Orders to give police and councils the powers they need to crack down on repeated anti-social behaviour in our town centres, keeping our communities safe and ensuring repeat offenders face the consequences of their actions. And in the Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves exempted hundreds of thousands of small businesses from paying any employer National Insurance contributions, and announced a permanent business rates cut for shops, pubs and restaurants from 2026.
In Chester, we are lucky to be witnessing a surge in new businesses opening their doors. Businesses that are revitalising our local economy and enhancing the cultural and social landscape.
Locally, I meet regularly with representatives from the Chester Business Improvement District (Chester BID) who have been instrumental in attracting new businesses and empowering local entrepreneurs through targeted grants and initiatives.
This Small Business Saturday, I am looking forward to visiting some of the brilliant businesses in the constituency and I encourage all readers to continue to support small and independent businesses this festive season and beyond