TODAY the Gazette launches a campaign to support local businesses to help them recover from the impact of the coronavirus lockdown.

Supported by Yate and Chipping Sodbury’s MP Luke Hall, our Love Local Business campaign encourages our readers to back our traders by spending their money with them.

Many of these businesses are re-opening this Monday, June 15, after more than two months of being closed, while others such as hairdressers and pubs won’t be able to trade again until July. Those businesses that have been able to remain open during the lockdown have seen a significant loss in income.

Gazette editor Michael Purton said: “This is a crucial time for local businesses as they try to recover from the impact of the lockdown which, for many, has seen them without any income for more than two months. We are fortunate to have so many great local, independent businesses and we need our community to support them now to make sure we don’t lose them.

“In the coming months we will be promoting these businesses in our newspaper, on our website and our social media channels, to help spread the message that they are open and highlight why they are so valuable to this community.

“I urge all of our readers to show that they love local business by supporting them.”

MP Mr Hall said: “Local businesses are the backbone of South Gloucestershire. As someone who worked in Lidl in Yate before being elected as the MP, I know first hand that our local economy is as innovative and dynamic as anywhere in the country. At this time though, it also needs support.

“That’s why we have paid out so many business support grants, started the furlough scheme and South Gloucestershire Council are paying out discretionary grants backed by Government. Supporting business is always a priority, but it has never been more important than now. To every business in South Gloucestershire, we are here to to support you and will stand behind you. If there is anything more we can do to help navigate these difficult times, drop me a message and I will do everything I can to help.”

Businesses local to Yate and Chipping Sodbury have gone above and beyond to support the community during lockdown, and now need the community to support them. One such company is the Vintage Birdcage Cakery, in Yate. Owner Nicole Jones began offering a free soup delivery service for the elderly and vulnerable members of the community and to date has given over 25,000 free meals to those in need. With support throughout from other local companies, Jimmy Deane’s Fruit and Veg, Hobbs house bakery and supermarkets Morrisons and Marks and Spencers, Nicole and her team of volunteers have offered a daily lifeline to those shielding.

Nicole said she must now stop the free service to regain her livelihood: "There came a point around two weeks into lockdown when I could’ve re-opened, offering a takeaway or delivery service, like many other businesses have. But doing that would’ve meant I couldn’t offer the free meal service. The decision was simple. I will be forever grateful to my team of volunteers who have allowed this service to go on for 12 weeks.

“We are stopping the free service on Sunday June 14. We are hoping we can then re-open on July 5. We will begin to offer a takeaway and delivery service, especially to those in need. We have ideas for picnic takeaways amongst other things, and will be looking at how we can sit customers safely, in the cafe.We truly hope the community will support us to re-open and we look forward to seeing all of our loyal customers again.”

Chipping Sodbury based P.J. Bryers also faced lockdown challenges. Over 80 per cent of their staff were furloughed, while those remaining continued to work on essential repairs and maintenance projects.

Director Pete Bryer said: “Without the furlough scheme, we would’ve had to make people redundant. We have been very grateful for it and the grants that have been made available to businesses. We aim to keep our staff in employment by bringing a few back at a time. Our showroom re-opens Monday, June 15, ideally by appointment and we look forward to seeing our customers soon.”

Yate Shopping Centre is home to several local businesses, almost all of which closed in March. As they prepare to re-open, Andrew Lowrey, centre manager said: “We will be relieved to see the non-essential shops re-open. We are grateful to the Yate community for supporting the local shops in recent months and now look forward to welcoming back all shops and their customers. The centre along with all individual shops have put in place measures to ensure that the safety of shoppers is paramount in the forthcoming weeks."

Sales manager for the Gazette, Oliver Spencer said: “I am delighted that we are running a sustained campaign outlining the importance of using local business, at what is a crucial time for so many SMEs. We reach a huge percentage of the local population across our well-established regional brands and, through a combination of combining our loyal print publications, record online audiences and market leading engagement via our social media channels, we are really confident that we can be the marketing partner of choice for local businesses during this crucial period.

“We are really banging the drum for local businesses from all sectors including retail, hospitality and leisure and encouraging our loyal readership to show their support by shopping local. Any business which wants to be featured in our campaign should get in touch on 01453 769419 or oliver.spencer@localiq.co.uk and we will be more than happy to provide further details.”