Catherine signs the FSB

Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle North, has become an ambassador of the Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) ‘Keep Trade Local’ campaign, by signing the FSB’s Keep Trade Local charter.

As an ambassador of the campaign – which highlights the importance of small shops, post offices and pubs to the local community and seeks to save high streets from ‘identikit syndrome’ – Catherine Mckinnell has pledged to:

• Forever remember that small businesses are at the heart of communities

• Support small businesses in her constituency

• Bring the small business voice to Parliament

Catherine said:

“Small businesses are vital to our economy and it is really important that we recognise their importance to high streets, such as Gosforth, Newburn and Westerhope in my constituency, as well as to pulling Britain into economic recovery. Indeed, the UK is driven by small firms which make up 99% of all businesses in this country – and they are the engine for job creation within our communities.

“However, we all know that small firms are coming under a combination of pressures, not least because of the current uncertain economic times.

“The FSB’s campaign is therefore really important because it highlights the significance that small firms have in the local community, emphasising that they aren’t just part of the local community, they are the local community – whether in providing valued, personalised goods and services or by creating and sustaining local employment.”

More information about the FSB’s Keep Trade Local campaign can be read here: http://www.fsb.org.uk/policy-ktl