Alex B Cann column - a little passion goes a long way 12/02/26

I had a fantastic evening at the Glossop & High Peak Business Awards, which took place on Monday evening at Glossop's swish Market Hall. The venue was packed with 200 guests, all enjoying a three course meal, followed by a glittering presentation. The multi-million pound transformation blends the heritage of this stunning building with the flexibility to host events and local businesses, and I was blown away by how good it looks.

I've spoken to a lot of great local independents since the start of this year, and one thing that connects them all is the passion they have for what they do. Every day, we all make choices about where we spend our cash, and even though prices are clearly being squeezed by inflationary pressure and reduced disposable income, every pound we spend with a local company makes a difference to them keeping the lights on.

It's so easy to sit on your sofa and click a couple of buttons to shop via one of the internet giant sites, but the old maxim of 'use it or lose it' definitely applies when it comes to our high streets. A "Pride In Place" programme was announced by the Government back in September, allocating cash to some of the country's most disadvantaged communities. The Chancellor stated the money was designed to "improve parks, youth facilities, swimming pools and libraries". Other parties have been critical, with shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly stating: "Labour have been forced into this announcement to try to distract from the immense damage they are doing to businesses and communities by hiking taxes".

For my sins, I worked in a local authority's business rates department many moons ago, before I managed to get my dream radio job, and the amount of money shelled out at the time by businesses in York city centre was eyewatering. If you look at rent, rates, electricity, waste collection, and all the costs associated with bricks and mortar premises, it's no wonder things are so tough on the high street. 

It's heartbreaking to note that one pub a day closed for good in England and Wales during 2025, with 366 demolished or converted for other uses in the year to December, reported The Guardian on New Year's Eve. The Treasury argues that the last budget contained a £4.3 billion support package, but many publicans were dismissive of the recent help announced. Other businesses like hotels and restaurants also wondered where their concessions were.

Leaving aside the politics, and with a reminder that there is a full list of candidates standing in the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election available in this newspaper and on our website, my main point this week is that we can all do our bit by the spending choices we make. Support your local if you can by popping in whilst you pick up some food from town (rather than using one of the apps that often charge restaurants up to 30% in fees..convenience doesn't come for free). When you spend money at an independent, most of it stays in the town where the business is located. Whilst national chains are important as part of the mix of our town centres, their centralised structure means the money almost certainly doesn't stay in the local area.

Our town centres would be a pretty desolate place without an interesting mix of quirky independent shops, great bars and cafes, and speciality food offerings. I spoke to a new greengrocer recently in Ilkley, who has only been trading for eight weeks and has already had a great reaction from customers, who love the fact they can order just what they need rather than the typical bulk buys on offer at supermarkets...not to mention the gratuitous shrink wrapping of items like cucumbers.

From flowers to bath bombs, from meat to fragrance, there were so many types of business awarded at the Glossop & High Peak Business Awards. I was really inspired by the enthusiasm and energy of all the winners who I interviewed for Tameside Radio, and felt I owed them this space to remind you that none of them can exist without your support. Times are tough for many, and leaving politics out of the equation, we can all make different spending choices that sometimes require a little more effort, but mean the world to those we are giving our custom to.

If you know a great independent who you'd like to give a shout out to, drop me a line and let me know!