Elgin BID in national push for town-centre recovery
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
MORAY shoppers are being urged to think local and put safety first in a campaign launched today to help town centres in their Covid fightback.
Elgin Business Improvement District (Elgin BID – Embrace Elgin) is backing a national rallying cry from Scotland’s Towns Partnership to help safely reignite the economy.
The partnership's Scotland Loves Local initiative, in association with the Scottish Government, is encouraging people to support the traders and entrepreneurs at the heart of their communities.
The campaign message is to safely and responsibly support town centres, adhering to all public health guidelines, as businesses battle to overcome the consequences of the massive disruption and temporary closures caused by the pandemic.
As reopenings gather pace, it asks people to make the most of what’s close by rather than turning to large online retailers or travelling further afield.
The campaign is an important final task for Gill Neill, chief executive of Elgin BID, who will leave the post on August 6. She said: "Businesses have been going to huge lengths to make sure customers, and their staff, feel safe about coming back.
"They are working really hard to ensure people can be confident and have been rallying round to help each other, which has been heartening to see."
She hopes the Scotland Loves Local campaign will further enhance the work in the area to encourage people to support businesses in their community and added: "I genuinely hope that the experience of the past few months has brought a greater appreciation from people of what’s around them.
"It’s really important that we’re all aware of the businesses in our town centre and that we support them.
"I hope this campaign encourages them to do so and that the sense of camaraderie that we’ve seen in our communities continues.
"We have all missed being able to meet family and friends in person for a coffee or glass of wine and our town centres are great places for this."
Phil Prentice, chief officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, said: "By thinking local first, the impact we will have in supporting our economic recovery should not be underestimated.
"The people who run these businesses are part of the fabric of our communities. Sometimes for generations these people have been there for us. Now it’s time for us to be there for them."
Businesses have been working with BIDs, local authorities and others to put in place arrangements including screens, distance markers and signage, the provision of hand sanitiser in-store and capacity limits.
Elgin BID has been involved in a range of initiatives to support its member businesses – including a campaign to supply face masks for care workers to wear while shopping. It has also collaborated with other groups across Moray to share advice and experience on how best to navigate various issues, including securing grants.
Scotland’s Communities Secretary, Aileen Campbell, said: "It is now more vitally important than ever to consider shopping, eating and drinking locally as we all have a role to play in Scotland’s economic recovery.
"Simple steps like choosing to visit a nearby shop or café, or buying goods or services from a business in your own community, helps support jobs and goes a long way to fostering the vibrant selection of products and services on offer close to home."
