OWNERS of small shops have until the end of Friday (January 29) to enter a national contest which is specifically aimed at celebrating their businesses.
Those shortlisted for the All Party Parliamentary Small Shops Best Small Shops Competition will be invited to a reception in Parliament on February 25 when the overall winner will be announced.
Those wanting to submit applications should visit www.bestsmallshops.uk and set out – in no more than 500 words – why they are the best small shops.
Applications must include how innovative the business is and provide details of any community engagement programmes and entrepreneurial activity.
The competition, which returns after an absence of four years, is being backed by Droitwich MP Sir Peter Luff.
He said: “As someone whose family ran small retail businesses for generations, I understand exactly the pressures on small shops and the vital service a good shop can provide to a community.
“This competition is a great opportunity for small shops in to get recognition for their hard work.
“We have so many excellent small shops locally and it would be great if they could rewarded for all their work and for the jobs they create locally by being shortlisted or even winning the competition.”
