A business association leader has spoken of the life-improving impact everyone can make by choosing local and backing ‘the bold and brave’ in their community.
Craig Hume, chair of Kilmarnock Business Association, has urged people to think local first ahead of Scotland Loves Local Week 2024 getting underway (August 26 – September 1).
The businessman, the managing director of Utopia Computers in the town, said: “When you shop local, you’re not just buying a product—you’re backing the bold, the brave, and the brilliant minds right on your doorstep. It’s not just about spending money; it’s about supporting someone’s dream, helping build a community, and ensuring our vibrant independent shops have a future.”
Mr Hume joined Councillor Douglas Reid, the Leader of East Ayrshire Council, as he signed the Scotland Loves Local Pledge on behalf of the authority.
Signing of the pledge further enhances the local authority’s ethos to think local first.
Its support for local business already includes using family-run Mauchline organic dairy Mossgiel to supply its school milk.
And it has been a national trailblazer in the use of local gift cards in encouraging residents to spend with businesses in their community – with the East Ayrshire Gift Card credited with creating a boost for the local economy.
A digital version of the gift card is due to go live within days.
Mr Reid said: “We were proud to be pioneers of shop local gift cards. With the changing retail environment it has given all sorts of businesses an opportunity to expand the way in which they carry out transactions, while also allowing them to compete with the online giants.
“With the back up of our Community Led Regeneration Team, and working in partnership with the local Business Associations, we’ve explored many innovative ways of using the cards, run promotions and competitions and worked with retailers to make the East Ayrshire Gift Cards a success. It’s been a joint effort which has paid off, keeping money circulating locally and supporting all types of local business.”
Councils, businesses, organisations and people across the country are getting behind the pledge – with others are being urged to follow their lead.
It states: “We will choose local, prioritising the people and businesses around us at every opportunity.”
About 240 other enterprises locally have benefited from the East Ayrshire Gift Card – which broke new ground nationally as it was used to help low-income families buy school uniforms, as well as a means by which to support people and businesses more widely through the cost of living crisis.
The council says that every £1 spent with the gift card has translated into £6 into the local economy because of the knock-on effect of people supporting local businesses – critical to their survival and success.
Councillor Reid added: “Of course we could not have succeeded without the support of local people, buying, giving and using the East Ayrshire Gift Card. There is a growing recognition that we must ‘use or lose’ our high street businesses. Giving a local gift card is a gift that benefits many more than the individual who receives it. We can all do our bit to help keep jobs, shops and prosperity in our area through the choices we make.”
Scotland Loves Local Week will highlight the power to build stronger, more sustainable communities by choosing local.
It is led by Scotland’s Towns Partnership as a means to boost local economies and improve places by galvanising support for the people and businesses in them.
