Greens commit support for small business in Southwark

Southwark Green Party calls for measures to support small businesses green their operations, improve employee welfare and make it easier

for people to choose to use local services and shops.

Many of the small local businesses across Southwark provided magnificent support for their communities during the worst days of the pandemic and now need support to thrive as costs are set to spiral and spending power is under pressure. Green Party candidate, and owner of her own business, Claire Sheppard said:

“Small and independent businesses and enterprises are the backbone of our local economy, giving our neighbourhoods distinctive and unique character. They are also vitally important in providing jobs and keeping money circulating in the local area. We owe it to them to champion these businesses over the online and anonymous giants who are advantaged at every turn. We are proud to be the party of small business; we want to see them thrive and and be given the support to do so.

“We also know that many small businesses are committed to becoming more sustainable and to improving the welfare of their employees, but it is often made difficult and expensive for them to do so. We love what Plastic Free Peckham and others are doing with local businesses to support and celebrate responsible business, and as councillors we will accelerate initiatives like this by introducing a series of further measures to support small businesses to do the right thing.”

Clare staying covid-safe on her local high street.

Among the measures proposed by the Green Party in Southwark and on the national level are to:

• Reform business rates to advantage small businesses and enterprises
• Ensure no small business pays higher business rates as a result of greening their business.
• Support small business to improve employee wellbeing by exempting all childcare providers in England from business rates, (in line with Scotland and Wales), by increasing employment allowance to at least £5000 to help the smallest employers; and ensuring no business is penalised by higher business rates when they implement Covid-safe measures such as ventilation systems.
• Review and reform VAT to support smaller shops and businesses compared to larger and online businesses.
• Work with small and independent businesses to create Virtual High Streets, so residents within a district can use an online portal to enable them to buy from participating local shops and have items delivered on the same or next day. Such schemes are operating in both Brighton and Lewes where Greens are in power.

For a full list of Green Party candidates standing for election in Southwark, click here.