Shoppers urged to ‘take care’ of local businesses in need

Campaign hopes Scots support drive to prioritise town centre shops

A major campaign urging Scots shoppers to think local and support their community’s recovery from the coronavirus crisis is being backed in the region.

Supporters hope Courier Country will benefit strongly from the Scotland Loves Local drive, which launches today and encourages people to safely prioritise supporting businesses in their own town centres.

Spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) with the support of the Scottish Government, the multimedia initiative comes at a time when the need for support has never been greater as shops, cafés and restaurants recover from the financial fallout from the pandemic.

Among those who have welcomed the campaign are members of the St Andrews Business Improvement District (Bid), who are backing it in tandem with their own Love Local Love St Andrews initiative.

During lockdown, companies have benefited from a Bid resilience fund, while also innovating online, with many restaurants providing takeaways.

Louise Fraser, gallery owner and chairwoman of Bid St Andrews, explained: “There’s a real sense at the moment that we’re all in this together. I hope we can maintain that by supporting our local businesses.”

Phil Prentice, chief officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, said: “The breadth of businesses in our town centres is vast. By thinking local first, the impact we will have in supporting our economic recovery should not be underestimated.

“The people who run these businesses are part of the fabric of our communities. Sometimes for generations these people have been there for us. Now it’s time for us to be there for them.”

Picture: Steve Brown. Louise Fraser, art gallery owner.