Let's get ready for Small Business Saturday

Being held on Saturday December 7, Small Business Saturday is a UK-wide grassroots campaign that encourages people to support small businesses within their communities.

And this year the UK campaign has been featuring five Swansea businesses that showcase the amazing diversity and energy small enterprises bring to our High Streets.

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said: "Small businesses are the lifeblood of communities right across Swansea. They create jobs for local people while adding character and vibrancy to our high streets.so they rightly deserve our backing.

"From innovative new businesses to those which have been in our communities for generations, many people enjoy the retail and social opportunities they provide both in the city centre and throughout all others parts of Swansea.

"This is an especially important time of year for our businesses too as we head towards Christmas, so I'd encourage as much support as possible."

He added: Our festive free bus travel offer will also help businesses right across Swansea by encouraging people to take a free trip to places like Morriston, Mumbles or Gorseinon to seek out small, independent traders who may have that perfect Christmas present not available elsewhere."

During the pandemic the council provided more than £150m of support to local businesses. Since then the council has continued to support almost 500 small businesses directly with a range of grants and non-financial business support through the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF).

On top of that scores of businesses have been supported to save money by reducing their carbon footprint, gain large contracts and benefit from city centre events boosting footfall in the area.

The five Swansea businesses featured by Small Business Saturday are the Ctwsch Hostel, the Retro and Vintage Store in Picton Arcade, The Lumberjack Axe Throwing experience in Dillwyn Street, the XP Gaming Bar in Castle Square and the Bowla food outlet in Swansea Market.

They were among 31 businesses in the city centre, Gowerton, Winch Wen and Morriston to benefit from £330,000 in Swansea Council grants through the SPF earlier this year.

They included Colwyn Fish Bar in Winch Wen, and Cheers Wine Merchants in West Cross. Among other businesses to take advantage of the grants were the No 18 Vegan Café Bar on Brynymor Road,  the Brew and Bloom Café at the Forge Fach Community Centre in Clydach, the Malu Coffee and Espresso Bar on Woodfield Street in Morriston and Dewkes, a pet shop based in Mumbles.