1 week Ago By D R
Wrexham.com has invited the four North Wales Members of the Senedd to write a monthly column with updates on their work. You can find their updates – along with contributions from the local MPs and MSs – here .
In this month’s column, Welsh Conservative Member of the Senedd Sam Rowlands writes: One of the things that makes Wrexham a great place to live, work and play is the array of businesses that contribute to the local area That includes the hospitality sector, with hard-working people running pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants and more to provide quality food and drink and give people a place to relax and enjoy themselves. This can be a difficult thing to do, particularly in the current economic climate with many businesses around the country going bust – so my hat really is off to the dedicated people who are giving it a go and making things happen. As one example, it was good to see Humble & Whole opening its doors in Rossett recently after going through months of renovations.
They are a bakery, coffee house and pantry who provide locally-sourced goods including, of course, cakes and pastries! These local businesses are not just there to provide a service, though. Often, they are at the core of their communities and provide immense social benefits. I read recently about a man named Brian Allman, a 79-year old man who was robbed and had his money stolen.
This was a traumatic incident. When they heard about the ordeal, patrons of the Black Lion pub in Buckley had a whip-round for Brian, raising £80. This shows that people still look out for each other, and that community bonds are still strong.
Well done to the Black Lion. Those are just two examples of local businesses who are doing good work in a variety of different ways, and long may it continue. To be honest, I could fill dozens of articles with examples of great local businesses and I would need a much longer word count! Those places don’t just provide a sense of community and provide a great service, they offer job opportunities to local people and stimulate local economies which is essential to increase prosperity.
There are plenty of people out there who are entrepreneurial and are able to establish a business and get things moving. There are many more who would like to do that, but are daunted by the challenge. It’s clear to me that much more support is needed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Wrexham and beyond.
The Welsh Government down in Cardiff has lots of levers to help (or hinder) businesses in Wales. In my view, Welsh Labour simply aren’t doing enough to support our SMEs. For example, business rates in Wales are the highest in Great Britain, which makes the climate much more difficult for businesses.
This contributes to a wider economy where wages are lower. Indeed, Welsh workers have the lightest pay packets on average anywhere in the United Kingdom, coming in below England, Scotland and Northern Ireland at £34,303. It’s not only the Labour-run Welsh Government that have created a harsh environment for businesses.
The British Government, led by Labour since last year, has made a number of drastic decisions that will stymie Welsh businesses. As one example, they have hiked National Insurance employer contributions which will be calamitous for so many small and medium-sized businesses across the United Kingdom. Many are already teetering on the edge, and are now being slapped with an extra tax by Labour.
Many firms will now be unable to hire additional people or increase wages, or even have to let existing workers go because Labour’s Jobs Tax has made running a business so expensive. That will have an outsized impact on businesses in Wales, where wages are lower and the outlook for business is bleaker than in other parts of Britain. As the Welsh Conservative spokesman for Finance matters, I am determined to see a Wales where businesses and the people who work for them can prosper.
We want Wales to be the best place for SMEs anywhere in the UK, with an economic climate where people feel confident in taking that next step and setting up their own business. That will mean more people being employed in good jobs and more money in local people’s pockets. Humble & Whole and the Black Lion have shown what can be done, along with many similar pubs, restaurants, cafes and more across Wrexham.
I want more people to have the chance to do the same. So, I’d encourage you all to get out and support these local businesses, who are often run by dedicated individuals from the local community. If you can, it’s important to support them and help them flourish for years to come.
If you’d like to drop me a line, then you can do so via [email protected] Get notified about news from across North Wales.
