A PARTNER in one of the businesses shortlisted in the Local Business Accelerator competition said they were promoting the lifeblood of the community.
Su Moody of the Brackley Information Bureau said Governments tended to focus on small to medium sized businesses which could grow to provide hundreds of jobs and exports.
But she said in a town like Brackley there were dozens of business run from homes by husband and wife teams and sole traders, without a high street presence, who are often overlooked by Goverment initiatives and shoppers, despite the support they provide to their communities.
The LBA national competition was launched in October by regional newspapers across the country and is backed by Prime Minister David Cameron and Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden.
Winners will receive a share of a £15 million free advertising fund to help boost their businesses during 2012.
Mrs Moody co-founded the business directory bureau with Jan Dean in 2010 and said: “You often find people moaning there’s nothing in Brackley, but actually you can get most things, if you know where to look.
“It’s not going to make us millionaires, but the businesses which are members, tell us they do see their trade pick up and I think in general people are becoming more aware there is an awful lot on their doorstep, especially with what the shopkeepers are doing for themselves with Harriet Stapleton at Ptolmey Toys.”
Mrs Moody said once you considered the cost of petrol, parking and the time it took to get to another town, it would have been much better to spend a few pounds extra with a business in Brackley and keeping the money you spend in your local economy
She added: “People need to start thinking about their local economy first because that is where they live. And these businesses are the life blood of their communities.
“Without their sponsorship we wouldn’t have events like Brackley’s Got Talent, the music festivals or the motorcycle festival.”
The Brackley Information Bureau is located in the Courtyard Mews in Market Place, Brackley and was set up and operates without any local authority or Government funding. Mrs Moody said their service was not expensive and they could compete with the cost of a card in the window of a newsagent.
Visit the bureau wesbite at www.brackleyinformationbureau.co.uk, or call 01280 730567.
Other businesses short listed in the LBA are Mallard Jersey in Bicester and at home... in Buckingham.
The winner will be announced in the pages of the Advertiser and Review in the Friday, January 13 edition.