As the Prime Minister’s Small Business Ambassador for London, Mary Macleod MP had a packed schedule on Small Business Saturday, visiting lots of small businesses in Hounslow, Osterley, Isleworth, Brentford and Chiswick.

Small Business Saturday is an initiative first started in the U.S. to encourage people to support their local small, independent businesses at this time of year. It has the backing of the Prime Minister and all political parties.

 Mary joined Veronika Weisweiller from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to visit The Eye Studio and Noa Noa, two of the businesses on Chiswick Southside who got together to promote Small Business Saturday with special offers on the day.

Mary commented:

“It was great to meet so many small businesses during our events for Small Business Saturday. I really enjoyed visiting some new and exciting businesses like Bianca Marton in Brentford who makes delicious chocolates and Bagista a new handbag shop in Chiswick as well as established favourites like Zecca, Frivoli and Snapdragon.

The independent shops and businesses on our high streets really add to the unique character of our area. We all need to do our bit to support them so they can continue to grow and prosper.”

The government is fully behind small businesses and has introduced a whole host of measures to support them including extending help with business rates, cutting National Insurance bills and supporting funding to small business through the Business Bank.”

In the lead-up to Small Business Saturday, Mary asked local residents to nominate their favourite small business on Twitter. It was hotly-contested but the winner was The London Mummy shop – if you are looking for a gift for a new mum or baby, do have a look at their lovely products at www.londonmummy.com