Oxfordshire MP urges shoppers to support Small Business Saturday

Oxford East Labour MP Anneliese Dodds visited the city’s Covered Market yesterday to meet some of the more than 50 independent traders.

Small Business Saturday, a nationwide initiative, today aims to highlight the success of small businesses and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’.

Last stop today in preparation for tomorrow’s #SmallBusinessSaturday- the GamesKeeper on #CowleyRoad.
One of so many excellent small businesses in Oxford which need our support more than ever :-) pic.twitter.com/PyMfdpPN9w

— Anneliese Dodds (@AnnelieseDodds) November 30, 2018

More than 4,550 of Oxford businesses – 96 per cent – are small and micro businesses.

Small businesses are classified as having below 50 employees while a micro business has below 10 employees.

Ms Dodds said: “We are lucky in Oxford to have such a diverse small business community, so if you are out and about this weekend, doing your weekly shopping or preparing for Christmas, consider visiting some of our fantastic independent and specialist traders.”

And then we were on to The Garden- which has been a beautiful part of the ⁦@CoveredMarketOx⁩ for many years #SmallBusinessSaturday pic.twitter.com/c4UWpwi6Mm

— Anneliese Dodds (@AnnelieseDodds) November 30, 2018

Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership chief executive Nigel Tipple said: “Small businesses are the backbone of any economy and that’s particularly the case in Oxfordshire.

“We have seen over 43,000 new jobs created between 2011/12 and 2015/16, with small businesses responsible for a considerable number of these. It’s clear our business community is willing to embrace innovation and, in turn, support the county’s growth ambitions.”