Cochrane puts Small Business Saturday on Assembly agenda

Alliance Chair of the Assembly Group on SMEs, Judith Cochrane MLA has secured an Assembly debate on the upcoming Small Business Saturday initiative which aims to encourage people to shop at their local traders and will take place on Saturday 7^th December. The motion has all party support and will take place on Monday 2nd December.

Motion: Small Business Saturday

That this Assembly supports the forthcoming Small Business Saturday on 7 December 2013 and urges the local community to make a special effort to support local traders on that day.

Judith Cochrane MLA said: “Small Business Saturday aims to encourage people to support their local traders both on the day and beyond.

“As Chair of the Assembly Group on SMEs, I am very pleased that the Assembly will get a chance to lend its support to the campaign. Many shops depend on the Christmas period to sustain their business throughout the year, so I hope that this Assembly debate will further highlight this initiative and encourage people to take part on Saturday 7^th December.

“This will be the first time that this initiative has taken place in the UK, but it has been running quite successfully in America since 2010. It has been championed in the UK by Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna MP and has received support from all parties in Westminster and Stormont.

“Small Business Saturday is a fantastic way for the public to show their support for their local traders and I would encourage everybody to visit their local shops on Saturday 7^th December.”

ENDS