The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is offering a year’s free membership and promotion to the business which has produced one of the best photographs for Solihull Council’s Instagram ‘Support Local’ competition.
This now means that there will be two winners of the competition. One will receive the FSB’s prize and the other the existing prize of a year’s free membership to the Solihull Chamber of Commerce. The winner of this prize will also be promoted across the Chamber’s media platforms.
There are now just under two weeks for businesses to enter their submissions, before the deadline of Friday 4 December to coincide with Small Business Saturday (5 December).
The competition has been running since the beginning of October and has seen a vast number of submissions from a wide range of businesses across the borough.
To get involved, businesses should email their picture to business@solihull.gov.uk with their business name, business information (including what they do, business website, and social media handles).
Images will then be shared on the Council’s Instagram page (@solihullcouncil) where people can like, comment and share their support for this campaign.
Cllr Grinsell, Deputy Leader of Solihull Council, has said:
“The ongoing collaboration between the Council and business stakeholders continues to develop positively. They have all supported the campaign thus far by publicly sharing their backing for the ‘Support Local’ campaign in the Solihull Observer.
“It’s wonderful that the FSB are now offering another impressive prize for the competition and that there will be an additional winner. I look forward to knowing who has won.
“As well as supporting businesses as part of this competition by liking posts on our corporate Instagram account I would encourage residents to continue to support local wherever they can, safely.
“With the power of modern technology it’s even easier to find what is on offer in your local area, by searching online, on social media platforms or by simply contacting a business directly via phone or email.”
Lee Osborne, FSB Development Manager for Warwickshire Coventry and Solihull said:
“The past few months have been and remain some of the toughest periods of trading that small businesses have faced. Right across every high street and town centre small firms have faced an unprecedented period of turbulence the likes none have experienced before. With small firms making up 99% of businesses in the country and being at the heart of their local community it has never been more important to support small firms, shop local and support the regions self-employed. That’s why we have continued to back the ‘Support Local’ campaign in collaboration with Solihull Council and other stakeholders.
“We want to celebrate all that is good about our independents and local businesses across Solihull and are really pleased to be able offer this fantastic prize for the competition. With the end of campaign fast approaching we would encourage everyone in the local community to continue to safely shop local, join in the conversations using the #Supportlocal hashtag, and promote small independent businesses across Solihull.”
Lillian Elekan, Head of Solihull Chamber of Commerce, said:
“In Solihull, we are incredibly lucky to have a wide variety of fantastic local businesses, providing a myriad of services and products to thousands of residents and visitors. They, like many others, have been hit hard by the COVID crisis, and now, perhaps more than ever, need our support. We cannot let our local retailers and high street down, they are crucial to this town’s future, which is why Solihull Chamber continues to back the ‘Support Local’ campaign in collaboration with the Council and other stakeholders.
“We find ourselves in unprecedented times, and in addition to supporting local businesses through them, we want to celebrate their resilience and are really proud to be able offer this fantastic prize for the competition. With the end of campaign fast approaching I’d like to encourage the local community to get behind local businesses; shop and spend local where you can, discover the outstanding retailers that are a part of Solihull and share your local gems using the #Supportlocal hashtag and let’s shine a light on all our fantastic local businesses across Solihull!”