MP backs local firms on Small Business Saturday

Sefton Central MP and Labour's Shadow Business and International Trade Minister, Bill Esterson met with small businesses as part of the Labour Party's support for Small Business Saturday.

Mr Esterson enjoyed breakfast at Scrummies by Maghull station; before paying visits to Formby Car Electrical, Formby Tesco and Coulson’s Carpets in Crosby.

Mr Esterson was told by Scrummies of the relationships they are building with their customers and the additional business they were adding through providing meals to older residents given the lack of meals on wheels due to Conservative government cuts.

The MP said: “Scrummies are a great café and I really enjoyed breakfast. The fact that they support older people shows that they are doing what good local businesses do, which is to support the community they are in. We had a really good chat about the challenges of growing a business and especially the difficulty of having to register to VAT, which means extra bureaucracy and also having to put up prices for customers. VAT is a tax that can make life very challenging for smaller businesses as well as putting up prices for many of those who can least afford to pay and I have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the challenges which Scrummies and many others face.”

On Formby industrial site sits Formby Car Electrical, a business of the present that looks set for the future.

Mike Wildman of Formby Car Electrical told Bill Esterson,

“Thanks for supporting small business Saturday. I would urge everyone to support their local independent businesses. In doing so you’re helping us provide local employment, getting a personal service & keeping the money local. We have been serving the people of Formby & surrounding areas for 46 years & look forward to many more years.”

Bill Esterson said,

“I was impressed at Formby Car Electrical as many cars are now run by computer, which means that a there is less for independent garages or car specialists to do. So it is really encouraging that Formby Car Electrical is making every effort to work with main dealers and to adapt to new technology. I have every confidence that they will go from strength to strength especially if people in Formby continue to support this excellent business.”

Bill Esterson also visited Andrew Coulson of Coulson Carpets in Crosby.

Andrew employs a number of local people in his business and was keen to point to the personal service his company provides as against the more clinical approach in larger organisations. Andrew was keen too to show the mutually beneficial relationships he has with UK wool suppliers and others in the country.

Mr Esterson said, “It is great to know that in Coulson Carpets in Crosby, we have a business which employs local staff and where buying from UK suppliers is important. The fact that Andrew is so busy, speaks volumes for the fact that he is delivering a good service to people in our area. I know from first hand that he Andrew and his team are an excellent firm and do a great job.”

After visiting businesses on Small Business Saturday, Bill Esterson said,

“It was great to showcase some of our excellent local businesses and if any other businesses in Formby, Crosby, Aintree or Maghull would like me to visit, I am more than happy to do so. We have many excellent firms in our area and run by people from our area. For example, Blends in Knowsley is a firm, whose owners live in Maghull. Red Star Ales in Formby produces great beer, as do Rock the Boat in Little Crosby and Neptune in Maghull. I finished my visits with a pint in the newly refurbished Horse and Jockey in Melling, another excellent local business.

With over 60% of private sector employment coming from small businesses, Labour wishes to celebrate their contribution.

SMEs are the backbone of the economy, the next Labour Government will be squarely behind SMEs as an integral partner in our country’s economic success.”

Sefton Central Labour MP and Shadow Minister for Business and International Trade, Bill Esterson is pictured on Small Business Saturday with staff at Scrummies in Maghull, at Formby Car Electrical, at Coulson's Carpets in Crosby and in the Horse and Jockey in Melling with his wife, Caroline, enjoying a pint