Campaign to give South's small businesses a boost as restrictions lifted

It'll focus on firms hardest hit by the pandemic

Author: Ryan BurrowsPublished 20th Jul 2021
Last updated 20th Jul 2021

A new campaign's being launched to celebrate local cafes, restaurants, night-time venues and other small businesses across the South.

Timed to co-incide with the lifting of all lockdown restrictions, the Federation of Small Businesses is looking to raise the profile of small firms through its #MyHiddenGems initiative.

The campaign, which will run through the summer, gets people to highlight their favourite local firms in order to encourage others to use and support them.

#MyHiddenGems focuses specifically on businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector which have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic – they were often the first to close their doors and the last to re-open them.

Nicola Bailey, the FSB's Development Manager for Hampshire, Dorset and Isle of Wight, said it was a good time to remind people of the great businesses on our doorsteps that desperately need our support after their most challenging year ever.

“The re-opening is obviously great news in many ways for business but with Covid-19 case levels rising businesses are still uncertain how quickly they will fully be back to normal.

“We hope our new campaign will encourage people to use the power of social media to highlight their favourite, cherished local businesses in the hope it will increase their footfall and give the area the economic boost it so badly needs.”

The campaign will encourage local people to spotlight the businesses they are particularly fond of using the hashtag #MyHiddenGems on Twitter and adding the local FSB Twitter account handle - @FSBHantsIow.

The Tweets or other social posts will then be promoted throughout the FSB’s social media and elsewhere to try to create a momentum of support for local companies.

Ian O’Donnell, chair of FSB’s England Policy Unit, said:

“After 16 months of disruption, Monday’s reopening will be a big moment for small businesses and the self-employed.

"Many will be breathing a sigh of relief, particularly in sectors like nightlife, hospitality and events, which have been unable to open or operating on a much restricted and smaller scale.

“Although small firms will now be looking to the future, many have been burdened with high debt levels at the same time as funding their own reopening, which may have been marred by employees being told to self-isolate by the NHS app despite testing negative.

"This campaign therefore gives people the opportunity to shout about their favourite small firm, whether a café, shop, pub – anywhere you want to share with others!”

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