SMALL Business Saturday is back in Weston for another year, urging shoppers to give local firms a try when perusing for purchases this weekend.

Across the country, the scheme’s representatives will be hoping to entice people to take advantage of small shops based in their area, with Weston being no exception.

Mayor Raymond Armstrong will join business owners and staff in the town centre on Saturday morning, as they look to entice shoppers away from the larger chains and into some of Weston’s many small independent stores.

There will also be a number of businesses showcasing what they can offer at Big Lamp Corner in High Street during the day.

Nationally, 99 per cent of the 4.9million firms in the UK are defined as small or ‘micro’ businesses, and a spokesman for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said every £1 spent in the town would help secure jobs and services for local people.

John Mayer, the chairman of the Weston branch of the FSB, said: “If we all, whenever practical, use local businesses, then across the board all businesses will benefit by keeping money in the local economy.

“In turn we as individuals will also benefit from the success of local small businesses.

“Big businesses also play their part in this, as they also can and often do use local businesses and this can only but be encouraged.”

Last Thursday, the Small Business Bus visited Weston as part of a national tour, with professional experts on hand to offer their advice to entrepreneurs in the area.

Among those experts was Will Jeffries, of Weston company Authentic, which was shortlisted as one of 100 companies from across the UK to be promoted ahead of Small Business Saturday this year.

Mr Jeffries said: “We feel immensely proud to have been selected at one of the Small Biz 100 firms, which allowed us to bring the tour bus to Weston.

“By working together as a business community we hope our event raised awareness and will encourage everyone to shop local.”