Portsmouth MP Stephen Morgan has congratulated this year’s winners of his Small Business Saturday Support Local Awards.
The city MP visited The Cat Clinic, Grounded in Southsea, and The Panormus Pizzeria, to present them with their awards for Friendliest Business, Greenest Business and Best Overall Business respectively.
Mr Morgan also thanked all constituents who nominated their favourite small businesses in our communities and congratulated all organisations and people nominated.
The Portsmouth MP has long campaigned for small businesses in Portsmouth to be given more support to grow.
Recent years have been a struggle for our high streets with over 6,000 pubs and 9,000 bank branches closed down, and almost 10,000 local shops shut in 2023 alone.
The new Labour Government is working with businesses to make our high streets safe and vibrant again, stopping violence against shop workers and transforming run-down town centres.
Mr Morgan has supported plans to tackle late payments, exempt hundreds of thousands of small businesses from paying any employer National Insurance contributions, and delivering a permanent business rates cut for shops, pubs and restaurants.
Commenting, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said:
“Small businesses are the beating heart of Portsmouth’s economy, which is why each year I try to celebrate organisations that provide so much to our city.
“I was delighted to award The Cat Clinic, Grounded in Southsea, and The Panormus Pizzeria with this year’s Shop Local awards.
“Portsmouth is fizzing full of potential, so I will continue to work hand in hand with our city’s small businesses to ensure they have the firm foundations they need to prosper and grow.”
Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.
The day itself takes place in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses.
