The Keep It Local campaign was launched almost two years ago now to raise awareness of the need to support our local economies and acknowledge those businesses at the heart of our communities.

Now as we emerge out the other end of the pandemic, it is abundantly apparent that the landscape will never look as it did before. That need not be a bad thing, quite the opposite in fact. Many of the changes in life will have been for the better, including the way we have grown to appreciate the contribution of local businesses to keeping the economy running and communities active.

1) Local Economy – Local spend boosts the local economy, creates local jobs and generates local wealth. Fact.

2) Local Environment - Quite simply, less packaging, less travelling, less fuel = Less carbon omissions and a healthier environment. Who doesn’t want that?

3) Local Community – Local businesses support local events, charities, sports clubs, school events, libraries, amenities…If our local businesses thrive, so do our communities.  We are all in this together.

4) Support Your Neighbour – Buying local not only boosts the economy, but it also helps local people to pay their bills and feed their families; be it the local butcher, hairdresser, jeweller, stationer…as opposed to fattening the wallets of large far away corporations. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is the need to support each other.

5) Personality & Character – Local businesses tend to be run by local people, not corporate boards, uninterested shareholders or algorithms. Meet real people, face-to-face, that care about your local area. Also great for your personal mental well-being.

6) Networking – Build relationships with other local businesses and individuals, creating partnerships with mutual benefits and support. Who knows, your local contact might just be able to provide your son or daughter with their first work experience or next career path!

7) Quality – Know what you are buying when you shop locally. Local businesses are less likely to offer poor quality goods as they know they deal face-to face with customers unlike large online corporations. You know where they are if you do need to complain!

8) Wider Choice – Though large retailers and big-box companies offer a wide selection; the variety is decided by small groups of corporate buyers. Real choice comes from dozens of independent businesses tailoring their goods and services to their unique community needs. Buying local and supporting local, keeps these options viable.

9) Local Taxes – You can rest-assured that your local independent business will be paying their fair share of corporation tax, rent, council tax, income tax and national insurance, contributing to the wealth of our nation. Not everyone can say that.

10) Feel Good Factor – We all know it is best to buy local, yet sometimes the temptation to just go online or open the App of a global company with super-fast delivery is just too tempting, despite the extra cost to the environment, the additional packaging, the transportation, the damage to our local community…Taking that time to stop, re-consider and Keep It Local will give you a much warmer and more satisfying experience.

Find out more at www.keep-it-local.co.uk