The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 16: Summer 2020 | Page 8

LOVE LOCAL
The Business Exchange is
encouraging the Bath and
Somerset business community to
rally together and support local
businesses.
As our high streets get set to open their
doors for the first time post-lockdown,
they need us more than ever. If you need
to buy something, purchase it from one
of our many hard working and passionate
independents. You’ll be helping to keep
dreams alive and families from struggling.
Many of our local retailers are too scared to
use the hard hitting words ‘use us or lose
us’, but that’s the reality.
The same applies to anyone looking to
buy products or services for their business
- invest locally. We have such a diverse
mix of businesses on our doorstep, why
look anywhere else? Small business is
the backbone of our economy and it plays
a vital role in its unique identity and what
makes our area special. We must strive
hard to protect it. Shop around, use the
many forums we have in Bath and its
surrounds. Many businesses are using
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram
as free ways to share the message that
they’re open for business and what they
have to offer. Organisations such as Visit
Bath and Bath BID are also regularly
sharing updated lists of businesses open
for trading as more begin to open their
doors. Keep an eye on these websites and
follow their social feeds.
#FORGOTTENLTD
Media consultant and journalist Fiona Scott has become the South West am
which has thousands of members representing business owners who have
What started as a social media movement
has gone on to become a voice for thousands
of small limited company directors affected
by the coronavirus pandemic - from
beauticians, to hairdressers, to plumbers,
electricians, book-keepers, business
coaches to marketing professionals and
many more.
Working with the founders, Fiona is now
compiling case studies of businesses across
the region who are affected by this to share
their stories and keep up the pressure on
government to deal with all businesses in a
fair and equitable manner.
She said, “When this started we all
thought we were ‘in it together’ however it
soon became clear to business owners like
me that we actually are not. A decision has
been made to ignore those business owners
who pay their salaries through a low wage
and top up with dividends. This is a perfectly
legitimate course of action recommended
by accountants throughout the land - and, in
the past, supported by governments.
“Now we are excluded. We cannot
furlough ourselves because that means we
cannot keep our businesses running under
the restrictions - and 80 per cent of our
small salary is not enough to live on. Some
of us have staff on furlough, no income,
fixed costs and no personal funds. We have
lobbied our own MPs and the Chancellor
who is not listening.”
The campaign group is hoping to force
a parliamentary debate on the issue by
collating 100,000 signatures on a petition -
and will continue to highlight the inequality
faced by small business owners throughout
England.
“We fear a storm is coming,” Fiona said.
“On one day alone last week one of our
members in HR did over 40 consultations
SME BUSINESS LEADERS
THE FRONT-LINE OF OUR
ECONOMY’S RECOVERY