Scotland Loves Local Week 2024 was a resounding success – and thanks go to everyone who took part.
Across the country, communities used our seven days of action as a platform to demonstrate how the simple act of choosing local will have a profound impact on their future.
By getting behind the people, businesses and organisations in our local areas, we can lay the foundations for building stronger, more successful and sustainable regional economies.
Local innovation and action is helping to create a new future for Scotland’s places.
Scotland Loves Local Week, spearheaded by the team at Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), shone the spotlight on that – and so much more.
As STP Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie said: “Scotland Loves Local Week is a highlight in the STP calendar – a real opportunity to celebrate success and those local businesses and communities which really inspire the word local.
“For us, Scotland Loves Local is more than an event. It’s a way of life. It’s a behaviour and it’s something we’ll continue to champion.”
We were delighted to have secured high-profile cross-party political support as people, businesses and organisations of all kinds across the country signed the Scotland Loves Local Pledge (something everyone can continue to do).
- Scottish Government makes pledge to think local first
- Labour leader visits businesses in support of Scotland Loves Local Week
- Scottish Conservatives chair goes behind scenes at dairy and backs choose local call
The pledge – available at www.lovelocal.scot/pledge – highlighted a commitment from signatories to think local first, promising to turn to local businesses whenever it is possible to do so. It was a move supported by organisations including the Scottish Grocers’ Federation and the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland.
In the Scottish Parliament, two motions were laid down in support of Scotland Loves Local Week, celebrating the difference that getting behind local businesses makes – protecting jobs, securing services and breathing new life into places.
Local councils were among others who supported the pledge – and encouraged others in their area to make the pledge too.
Other champions included those in Scotland’s vibrant improvement district network, who led the Scotland Loves Local Week charge in their communities – flying the flag for choosing local on social media and via some great local media stories.
The work of improvement districts to drive positive change and lead the charge on new initiatives was to the fore:
- Coffee, cake and cocktails: New town trails are a real taste treat
- Paisley’s in the spotlight as Scots are urged to choose local
- Nairn businesses back Scotland Loves Local rallying cry
Our Scotland Loves Local ambassador Sean Batty shone a spotlight on how community action really makes a difference as he visited Gavin’s Mill in Milngavie, an historic landmark which has been brought back to life and is now a hub for local enterprise.
And the power of the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card to lock money into local economies was highlighted as we shared new that spending using Glasgow’s gift card has topped £8m – while our delivery partners Miconex shared news of the latest innovation embracing the gift card in Dundee.
Meanwhile, STP Chair Professor Leigh Sparks reminded us all how we can shake-off the negativity surrounding its town centres – by accelerating work to create a better future for them, their residents and visitors.
While Scotland Loves Local Week may be over, our rallying cry to choose local is a year-round message.
Read more:
- East Ayrshire – It’s about supporting someone’s dream, helping build a community
- Aberdeenshire – Every penny spent with businesses like ours is an investment in the future of our community
- Falkirk – Local support is at the heart of everything
- Hamilton – New ventures highlight high hopes
- East Kilbride – Chloe, 12, flies the flag for young entrepreneurs
- East Dunbartonshire – Protect jobs and give our communities a bright future
- Lanark – Community support will allow our town to flourish
Scotland Loves Local is led by STP with support from the Scottish Government.
Please continue to share your pride in people, businesses and projects in your community – highlighting the need to support them – on social media using the hashtags #ScotlandLovesLocal and #ChooseLocal. And, if you would like more information about getting involved with our campaign (or to find out more about STP’s wider work) please drop us a line by emailing [email protected].
