Cambridge BID hosted our Mystery Shop Awards last Thursday and our first Job Fair on Tuesday October 4th and as I spoke to the 100 or so businesses who attended these events there was quite a common theme, local customers are key to their success. The majority of businesses were retailers, bars, restaurants and hotels and as the cost of living rises and we all watch our pennies then my appeal, on behalf of Cambridge businesses, is support your local high streets and to keep spend local.

I live in the city and it is a pleasure to meet local managers of both independent and larger high street businesses, they all hire local people, pay business rates that partly stay local, often they’re using local suppliers, buying their lunch locally, having after work drinks local in a pub or bar, going to a show locally and eating local as well.

One gets to know these people they become part of your community, some even become friends, these interactions can provide huge health and well being benefits and you should feel pleased in fact proud to be supporting your city where you can.

As our thoughts turn to Christmas, yes just 80 shopping days to go, then why don’t we all think about how we can maximise our spend locally, lets not buy online but instead agree to use our local high streets, meet the people in those stores, use the knowledge and skills they have, meet friends for drinks in your local, book xmas parties locally and if your buying presents for your staff then support Cambridge city centre by buying the Love Cambridge gift card. Accepted by around 200 businesses, only redeemable in store in person so you have to shop local, more information here https://www.love-cambridge.com/gift-card/

It is simple really, do you want a vibrant city with a great mix of independents and larger businesses to meet friends for coffee, or lunch, to shop, have drinks, eat dinner, then you have to use it or loose it.