Backing Businesses and Local Shops

My parents ran their own businesses - and my twin sister and I spent our summer holidays assisting them with their two businesses; typing up notes for the accountancy practice, and helping in the factory for the high street retailers they supplied.. My partner is also a tech entrepreneur, so I know the hard work that goes into making a success of a business, and have recently set up my own business - following in my family's footsteps.

I want to support our local businesses, shops and restaurants, and work with the Government to make life a little easier our hard working entrepreneurs.

A few years ago, I worked as the lead economist on a campaign to tackle youth unemployment and making it cheaper for businesses to hire a young person - this campaign led to a change in the law whereby employers no longer pay NI on under 25s. I want to build on this work by making it easier and cheaper to succeed in business.

I want to support local businesses through pushing for a reform of business rates and organising a jobs fair to help match jobseekers with vacancies. I organised a jobs fair several years ago with over 500 attendees and 30 local employers, and would love the opportunity to do so again.