Chief Officer’s blog by Kimberley Guthrie
Scotland Loves Local Week has become one of the real highlights in our calendar at Scotland’s Towns Partnership. It’s seven days of action which focuses attention on the tremendous difference we can all make by supporting businesses in our local areas. And I am pleased to say that it was a great success again this year.
For us, though, Scotland Loves Local is more than just an activity. The week shines the spotlight on a mission that we are at the heart of year-round to drive a long-term shift in behaviour for us all to think local first. To make that a way of life.
We should not underestimate the impact we can make by supporting the people, enterprises and organisations in our own home communities more often. That’s true whether we are shopping, eating out, planning family trips, bringing in tradespeople to do work on our homes or commissioning services for our businesses.
On the most immediate level, this helps protect the livelihoods of our friends, neighbours and loved ones.
But the bigger picture is that choosing local is a foundation for the future. One from which economic and environmental sustainability and success will build.
By embracing localism, we will encourage innovation and give organisations of all kinds the confidence to invest in our communities. We can drive growth and help fulfil the nation’s net zero ambitions by making more of what’s on our doorstep rather than face long journeys by car or have items from online giants delivered to us (local businesses offer deliveries too!).
It is a fact we have been reinforcing in and around Scotland Loves Local Week, through the Scotland Loves Local Pledge.
We asked people to sign the pledge as a commitment to thinking local first and supporting local businesses whenever it is possible for them to do so.
And we have been delighted by the broad business, community and cross-party political support we have received.
During Scotland Loves Local Week, I joined Employment and Investment Minister Tom Arthur as he signed the pledge on behalf of the Scottish Government in Paisley. I was also with Scottish Labour Party Leader Anas Sarwar as he signed it in Glasgow.
In Paisley, we saw how creativity and community action is playing a significant part in driving change across the town.
At The Art Department, we were treated to a glimpse behind the scenes of The Big Art Show as Outspoken Arts Creative Director Steven Thomson (pictured at the top of this blog) walked us through how they have turned the former Allders department store into a pop-up arts venue. A great example of how the arts can bring so much to our town centres.
We also heard from PACE Theatre Company, whose Chief Executive Grant Mason shared with us their plans to transform a disused former nightclub into Scotland’s first dedicated theatre for children, young people and families. I, for one, cannot wait to visit The Exchange, as it’s to be known, once it’s completed.
In Glasgow’s West End, Mr Sarwar and Daniel Johnson, his party’s shadow economy secretary, discussed all manner of issues affecting small businesses as they met some of the small enterprises who call De Coursey’s Arcade home.
They showed not only how local businesses provide a great support network for each other, but shared some really interesting insight into some of the issues they currently face and ideas for how they believe they can be overcome.
Both places also highlighted the powerful impact of our busy Business Improvement Districts, by highlighting work by Paisley First and Visit West End. Thanks to their chairs, Elaine Templeton and John Turner, for flying the flag for choosing local so brilliantly!
The many and varied ways in which communities are striving to build a better future really did come to the fore during the week, with more than 60 MSPs and MPs getting involved, including visits to businesses and highlighting the importance of choosing local via social media.
Our thanks also go to all of the MSPs who signed two motions celebrating Scotland Loves Local Week in the Scottish Parliament. That support at Holyrood is greatly appreciated. Special thanks to Liam McArthur MSP and Pam Gosal MSP for tabling them.
We were also delighted to join forces with STP partners Vicinity to launch a town trails pilot project with the BIDs in Alloa, Kirkintilloch and Linlithgow – all with a food and drink flavour. They’re well worth sampling for the tastes and the sights.
When you’re in the midst of such an intense, insightful and inspiring week of activity it’s sometimes difficult to appreciate the full reach it’s having.
But from the messages I’ve received, the social media posts I’ve seen and the conversations I’ve had this week at both STP’s AGM, the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Towns and elsewhere, it’s clear that the Scotland Loves Local message has once again struck a chord with communities across the country.
Such has been its success that we’re planning to do it all again next year! Our next Scotland Loves Local Week will begin on Monday, August 25th 2025. Stay tuned for more details…
In the meantime, our rallying cry to choose local continues.
Locking money into our local economies has never been more important. The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card can play an exciting part in that. We’ll be sharing the latest evolution of that in the not too distant future.
As ever, please do share images of the businesses and organisations which make your place so special on social media using the hashtags #ScotlandLovesLocal and #ChooseLocal.
You can find out more about Scotland Loves Local by clicking here.
And if there’s an initiative or idea in your community that you think STP could play a part in – or share some insight from our networks that would be helpful – please do drop me an email via kimberley@scotlandstowns.org.
By working together, we are helping to build a new future for Scotland’s towns.
Kimberley Guthrie is Chief Officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership
