The local Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire, Russell George, has called on the general public to come out and support small businesses on their high streets as part of Small Business Saturday this weekend.
On Saturday 5th December 2015, small businesses up and down the UK will be celebrating "Small Business Saturday" for the third year running.
Following "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday", Small Business Saturday is another initiative to cross the Atlantic, in a bid to recognise and promote the important role small businesses play within local communities, as well as helping to generate more trade.
Mr George said:
"Small businesses are an integral part of Mid Wales' local economy.
"Small Business Saturday is now in its third year and it is a fantastic initiative which is designed to celebrate small businesses and encourage people to shop locally.
"It should be a wonderful day and I hope that everyone visits their local town centre to see what our vibrant towns have to offer.
"However, this year’s event is tinged with disappointment as Powys County Council haven’t repeated their commitment of previous years and extended free parking to support Small Business Saturday. Free parking would have encouraged consumers to shop locally and support small businesses in their communities.
"I firmly believe that free parking is the key to our high street revival and at Christmas, flexible parking can play a huge role in encouraging shoppers into our town centres and high streets. The evidence clearly shows that when parking is easy, footfall soars.
"Also, as a small business owner myself, I know there is also need to support our small businesses all year round, not just on this one day in December. I would like to see a greater emphasis on providing a better support package for small businesses – from cutting business rates, improving access to finance for small firms and incentivising small businesses to take on additional staff. If every small business were able to take on a single additional employee, unemployment in Wales could be wiped out overnight.
"Nevertheless, Small Business Saturday is a wonderful opportunity to champion the role played by Wales’ small businesses. We need to celebrate independent Welsh firms and I would urge people all over Mid Wales to get involved by shopping locally this weekend."