Stroud District Green Party says the government should offer a Small Business support package to help local firms thrive in their green transition.
Parliamentary candidate Pete Kennedy, pictured at the local farmers’ market, said: “I visit independent businesses and social enterprises all around Stroud District and so many tell me that they want to make a success of becoming more sustainable.
“But they need government to get behind them and offer the right support. We need a competitively fair transition to net zero that helps rather than hinders the small and independent businesses that bring so much benefit to our local community.
“That’s why, on Small Business Saturday at the weekend, the Greens called for government to act and help small businesses thrive in their green transition. The fabulous Goodwill Evening, when local traders opened late for early Christmas shopping, showed how vibrant Stroud can be when everyone is out and about visiting local independent attractions and shops.
“But Small Business Saturday and Goodwill shouldn’t be the only times of the year when people support local traders; they need our custom all year round, so let’s all make a point of shopping local wherever possible.”
The Green Party’s alternative Autumn Statement identified £30 billion that could be raised by making the super-rich pay a little more tax [1]. Just £3 billion of that could be used to double funding for Green Transition Grants – to help small businesses prepare for and make the most of the opportunities of greening the economy.
Pete added: “From assisting small businesses to decarbonise their transport needs, to reforming VAT and suspending Covid repayments, there is much more the government should be doing.
“Small and independent businesses and enterprises are the heart of our local community. The Green Party has long been the party of small business, and we want to see them thrive.”
The Green Party is calling for:
An additional £3 billion in Green Transition Grants for small businesses to help them prepare for and take advantage of the opportunities offered by greening the economy [2].
- Assistance for small businesses to decarbonise their transport needs. Independent traders and tradespeople need access to electric vans and other low carbon transport solutions on the same terms as large companies. [3]
- Support for small businesses to improve employee wellbeing. Measures should include exempting all childcare providers in England from business rates.
- Reform of VAT to support small businesses and suspension of Covid repayments. The government must reform our VAT system so that it differentially supports smaller shops and businesses compared to larger and online businesses. Likewise, there should be an immediate suspension of Covid loan repayments to provide much needed relief for businesses.