Being 'Loyal to Local' has never been more important according to one of Grimsby’s leading business advocates.
E-Factor managing director Mark Webb is urging people and companies to back the area’s home-grown operators as the economy unlocks, partnering with the local authority to promote them.
Mr Webb, who has played a key role in the regional resilience forum, said: “The businesses that make up our local high streets, offices, business parks and industrial sites, along with the thousands of self-employed traders, and entrepreneurs across the area are essential to the future of our towns and villages.
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“As slowly but surely the country starts to ‘unlock’ it has never been more important to recognise the importance of supporting local business.”
Mr Webb told how local businesses account for more than 90 per cent of the employment in this area, while creating choice with unique offerings.
He said they are “100 per cent invested in the area”, spend money with other local businesses and “add so much more to the wellbeing of the northern Lincolnshire community.”
The Loyal to Local campaign is embracing social media, with businesses getting on board and posting videos in joined-up acts of self promotion.
A web page to provide information - with Grimsby-area design agency SourceFour behind it.
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Mr Webb said: “The future prosperity of this area will really depend on how motivated the community are to support local businesses.
“If all adults spent £1 per day with a local business this would put £44 million into our economy! This would help to create more jobs, provide more variety. Improve our high streets, encourage others to start up a business, and help build an even better future for this area. Being Loyal to Local benefits everyone!”
It follows a high profile call from Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dr Ian Kelly, after analysing the latest quarterly econmic survey which painted a grim picture of domestic sales in the midst of the pandemic.
John Fenty, Cabinet member for the economy at North East Lincolnshire Council, supports the initiative wholeheartedly. “In addition to asking the community to be Loyal to Local we also encourage all businesses and organisations in the borough to see how they could increase the number of local suppliers they use; the impact of that would be very significant,” he said.