Elizabeth Fish

The City of Lincoln Council is celebrating Small Business Saturday by encouraging more residents to visit Lincoln’s independents.

The event comes to the city, which hosts one of the highest number of independent businesses in the East Midlands, on December 6.

The shops range from fresh local produce to handcrafted gifts to useful services, and play a special role in the community.

The event aims to recognises the importance of small businesses and encourages people to make the most of them by supporting them.

City of Lincoln Council is working with Lincoln BIG and local traders’ groups to promote the event.

Council leader Ric Metcalfe said: “Small Business Saturday falls during the weekend of Lincoln Christmas Market, which is a great opportunity for us to promote the independent shops Lincoln has to offer to the 250,000 visitors we hope will be descending on the city.

“Surveys have shown the Christmas market brings more than £10 million into the local economy every year, and also promotes the city to people who may then visit again.

“Through difficult times we have remained focused on our three main priorities, one of which is to grow the local economy. Small businesses play a vital role in this, providing a variety of high quality products and services, expert knowledge and experience. It’s essential we do all we can to support them.”

Lincoln BIG Chief Executive Matt Corrigan said: “Lincoln is famed for its niche shopping and has one of the highest number of independent outlets in the East Midlands.

“That factor alone should encourage people to take time to visit areas, including The Strait, Steep Hill, Bailgate, Corporation Street and Sincil Street, to discover our hidden treasures and shopkeepers keen to offer great deals and excellent customer service.”

Richard Baxter, owner of Goodies in The Strait and chairperson of The Bottom of The Hill Group, added: “Any sort of advertisement and awareness to inform people that small independent businesses are what makes Lincoln a better place, has got to be good.”

The city council’s Small Business Support Team, can help businesses with:

• Business start up
• Funding
• Operating a food business
• Property searches
• Meeting and conference room hire
• Business rates advice
• Guidance on planning
• Licensing

In addition, the Retail Relief Scheme introduced by the Government this year, could see some businesses get a substantial reduction in their rates for 2014-15 and 2015-16.

The council’s Small Business Support Team can be contacted on 01522 845976 or emailed at [email protected].

Residents in Lincolnshire can now potentially make savings on their gas and electric bills by doing the third round of the Lincolnshire Energy Switch Scheme.

The latest round residents can join starts on December 2 and runs until February 2, 2015 — the recent scheme saved households on average £234.

The scheme aims to help people make large savings which could be used towards the cost of Christmas or other items around the home.

In the past, 5,000 household have joined the scheme, and as a group managed to get better deals from energy suppliers for tariffs.

To register interest in the free scheme, add your details on the Lincolnshire Energy Switch Scheme or call the free phone number 0800 048 8439.

Once households have registered interest, the energy suppliers will be invited to give their best offers.

There is no obligation to take up the winning supplier’s tariff offer one it’s announced.

Anyone can register, regardless of if you rent or own a home, on dual fuel or electric only, pay monthly or quarterly, or have a prepayment meter.

Councillor Colin Davie, executive member for the environment at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Shopping around for a good deal on energy bills has never been more popular and understandably we all seek to make savings that can add up.

“Registering online or calling the freephone number is a simple solution to what can be a time consuming process of changing energy provider.

“Therefore we recommend residents choose this hassle free option which has no obligation. If you register, you’re offered a deal after the auction and it’s a simple choice then whether to take it or not.

“The more people who register, the more interested energy suppliers are securing them as customers and the better the deal they offer.

“But you have to register to have a chance to take up the saving so register today and tell your friends, family and neighbours about the scheme too.”