Page 11 - Phil Prentice News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Business urged to sign up to Scotland Loves Local loyalty card Businesses across the country have already started signing up so they are ready to benefit as soon as customers can start spending them. Kirsten Scott, co-director of The Guild Dumfries, who also runs design business Mala Interiors, believes the Covid-19 pandemic has led to greater appreciation of the part that local shops and services play in peoples’ lives. “Now more than ever,” she says. “People are realising just how important local businesses are and how we need to be promoting and supporting them in order to re...

Now a Holyrood-backed scheme could make retail paradise, it is claimed. Scottish ministers are backing the roll-out of a local gift card scheme aimed at keeping cash in communities. And it’s hoped every area in the country will soon have its own regional gift card to encourage residents to support local businesses. The “Scotland Loves Local Gift Card” is part of efforts to “power the national economic fightback” after a year of hardship for store-holders. It’s being delivered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), after whose campaign it’s named, and is the result of...

Former communities secretary Aileen Campbell shows her support for the Scotland Loves Local campaign AWARD nominations are now open to honour the inspirational and innovative work making Scotland’s communities better places to live. A high street hero and those leading the charge to tackle climate change will be among those recognised in the Scotland Loves Local Awards. People are being urged to speak up about the individuals and organisations making a difference to life in their area. The awards are being organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) to celebrate all that is gr...

IT looks likely that the months ahead will be remembered as the summer of staycationing, day-trips and picnics. Now a new trail is set to launch this weekend, encouraging people to fill their lunch boxes and picnic baskets with local goodies along the way, while supporting food and drink firms to get back on their feet after the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. Forth Valley Food and Drink network is behind the trail, which is funded by Scotland Loves Local and features a map highlighting the region’s local food and drink businesses, free outdoor attractions and picnic areas. ...

Shoppers in Scotland have been reminded over mask-wearing and distancing as retailers look to claw back £4.1 billion in lost sales since the start of the pandemic. From Monday, “non-essential” shops are allowed to open their doors to the public after being shuttered since Boxing Day, with millions spent on safety-proofing them against Covid transmission. The Scottish Retail Consortium urged shoppers to queue considerately and be mindful over distancing and mask-wearing after “four long months of closure” for shops. It expects an “initial surge” as customers venture out but said t...