Support West Lothian business this Independents Day
West Lothian residents are being encouraged to back local business this Independents Day weekend, which takes place on 6 and 7 July 2024.
The council is supporting the national awareness campaign, which aims to shine the spotlight on and support our local independent businesses and retailers.
Independents account for around 65% of the approximate total of 290,000 retail outlets in the UK and are at the heart of local communities throughout the country.
Across West Lothian, there are a significant number and diverse range of independent businesses and retailers located within our traditional town centres and local villages.
A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: "Independents Day weekend is a great opportunity to support local businesses that play a vital part of our local communities, so please consider giving them your support on 6 and 7 July 2024.
"They offer choice, diversity of products and services, creating jobs and boosting the local economy as well as a more traditional personal quality of service to their customers.
"Many of our local independent traders and small businesses have had to display extreme resilience and innovation in recent years, and with retail spending continuing to be under pressure due to both the cost of living and cost of doing business crisis.
"We can all play our part visiting independent retailers and traders, whether it's local favourites or ones you've never visited before, and giving them your support over the Independent's Day weekend in July."
West Lothian Council offers support to local independent traders and businesses is through the shop front improvement grant scheme. The council-funded initiative offers our high street and local businesses the opportunity to apply for one-off grants of up to £750, to assist with external improvements, subject to applications meeting the scheme eligibility and criteria.
Any interested local businesses/retailers can find more information on the shop front improvement scheme grant at www.westlothian.gov.uk/shopfrontgrants
West Lothian Council's Economic Development service also provide a full range of assistance to local businesses. For more details, please visit www.westlothian.gov.uk/business-support
