Published Date: Aug 30th, 2024
During Scotland Loves Local week, residents and businesses across Fife are asked to think local first in order to boost local and national economies.
Burntisland-based business, Macauley's Fruit and Veg Merchant has vowed to play its part in helping boost the local economy by making the Scotland Loves Local Pledge, promising to prioritise spending with local enterprises whenever it can.
Ross Macauley, is one of a number of small business owners in Fife who has supported the The Fife Gift Card, since it was launched and which is part of the Scotland Loves Local initiative encouraging local spending in shops, restaurants and attractions.
Many Fife businesses especially local independents like Macauley's, have welcomed this initiative by Fife Council to provide business support that makes ‘buying local’ easier.
Scotland Loves Local Week is seven days of national activity highlighting the work taking place to make communities fit for the future, underpinned by critical local support. And it is hoped that the move will encourage other businesses to follow their lead, making a promise to target support and spending with those around them.
Ross made the pledge saying. "Obviously in this line of business, fresh seasonal produce from local suppliers is very important to our customers. Working with a number of local growers means that we can offer fruit and veg that has often been picked only hours before. It also means that we're able to stock more unusual or heritage varieties that are not available in the supermarkets.
"We enjoy working directly with local independent businesses and start-ups too. Our jams are made for us in Pittenweem and local honey is always a best-selling product for us. This week we have introduced a coffee roasted in Aberdour to our shelves - there's always new things to discover from Fife's vibrant range of food producers."
Local authorities, businesses and individuals across the country are being urged to make the Scotland Loves Local Pledge. It states: “We will choose local, prioritising the people and businesses around us at every opportunity.”
Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), the organisation which spearheads Scotland Loves Local with support from the Scottish Government, believes millions of pounds more can be injected into regional economies if more residents think local first.
Kimberley Guthrie, STP’s Chief Officer, said: “We are delighted to see Macauley's sign the Scotland Loves Local Pledge and publicly demonstrate its commitment to supporting local businesses.
“The power of choosing local more often - whether that be residents doing so in their daily lives or businesses supporting other local businesses - is transformational.
“Greater support for local enterprises protects jobs and businesses. And that support underpins the tireless work taking place to help communities adapt to our ever-changing world, seizing opportunities to innovate, invest and make our communities better places to live, work and visit.”
Scotland Loves Local Week, which takes place from August 26th until September 1st 2024, highlights the critical difference that choosing local makes to building stronger, more sustainable, communities. It will highlight work taking place by the likes of community organisations, Business Improvement Districts and social enterprises.
People are being invited to share images and details of great businesses and organisations that make their home area so special, using the hashtags #ScotlandLovesLocal and #ChooseLocal. STP leads the Scotland Loves Local initiative as a means to boost local economies and improve places by galvanising support for the people and businesses in them.
Find out how you can get involved with Scotland Loves Local Week by going to www.lovelocal.scot or emailing info@lovelocal.scot.
If you are interested in purchasing a Fife Gift Card or you are a local retailer that is interested in accepting the gift card, go to www.fifegiftcard.com. You can buy it, see where to spend it or sign up your business here.
