Airdrie MP Anum Qaisar marks inaugural Scotland Loves Local Campaign by visiting town businesses

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Airdrie's MP Anum Qaisar highlighted the sweet taste of backing local businesses during a visit to two popular places in the town.Her appearances at Christie the Baker and Gin Blossoms Flower Shop were to mark the inaugural Scotland Loves Local Campaign - a national initiative designed to encourage people to think local first in order to support community firms.During her visit to Christie's, Ms Qaisar heard from bakery staff about the growth of the business and how it has managed to remain a local high-street favourite for some time.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android She also met bakery bosses to discuss the challenges that many small businesses face following Brexit and rising energy bills.She went on to meet with Angela Russell, the owner of Airdrie-based Gin Blossoms Flower Shop, to hear about the growth of the business since its creation during the COVID pandemic.Ms Qaisar highlighted how small businesses like Christie’s and Gin Blossoms have helped contribute to her Airdrie and Shotts constituency's success as one of the UK’s top small business hubs.GoDaddy’s multi-year research initiative, Venture Forward, found that Airdrie and Shotts’ score grew by 29.53 per cent - the largest small business growth in Scotland and sitting among the top three across the UK.Ms Qaisar told Lanarkshire Live: