Dunfermline and West Fife MP marks Small Business Saturday

Every year, the event falls on the first weekend in December as a celebration of the huge variety of shops and small businesses at the heart of our communities.

It aims to remind people to support their work and shop local when looking for something special this Christmas. Mr Chapman visited a variety of local small businesses starting with The Inn at Charlestown before moving on to Coorie by the Coast for some soup, sandwiches, coffee and cake before he headed to Dunfermline.

In the High Street, he took part in some cheese-tasting at the city's newly High Street deli ‘Must Be Crackers’ before he went to Fife’s first Afro-Caribbean grocery, AYT Foods, ahead of its official opening in Bridge Street on Saturday morning.

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“I’m so encouraged and delighted to visit such a wide range of dynamic and imaginative businesses here in Dunfermline and West Fife for this year’s Small Business Saturday," said Mr Chapman.

"Although they are all so different in terms of the services they provide, from hotel hospitality to local café cuisine, from thoughtfully sourced larder and artisanal food shopping to international food and drink, they all share a passion and love for what they do and what they bring to our communities.

"Times have been very tough for small businesses in recent years, and there continues to be many challenges and hurdles to overcome; these businesses are a great example of the agility, flexibility and resourcefulness needed to thrive and grow alongside a good dose of enthusiasm to boot.

"They’re all right here on our doorstep either in or around our City. It’s important we show them our support not just for Small Business Saturday but at any time of the year when we have something special to buy or have something to celebrate with family and friends.”