Hastings and Rye businesses urged to enter national competition

The Best Small Shops Competition is open to any small shop operating in the UK.

The competition is free to enter and all shops who enter will also be promoted to consumers through an online Indie Retail Directory.

The judges will be looking for evidence of a small shops’ entrepreneurial spirit, ways that they have been innovative in their business and what they have done to have a lasting positive impact on their community.

The shortlisted small shops will then be in with the chance to win one of five awards, including the newly-launched award for small shops response to Covid-19.

Following the launch of this competition, Mrs Hart said: “Small shops and stores have been the backbone of our communities in recent months as we have faced the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Many of the corner shops in our villages and local communities have been open for us so we can continue to be supplied with the essentials as we entered lockdown.

“I urge all local small shops to enter this competition and take part.

“You are all deserving of the award given the mammoth efforts you have gone to in remaining open during this challenging period, so now submit your entry and give your shop a chance of winning.”

Shopkeepers can nominate their businesses until Friday, September 11, 2020, via www.bestsmallshops.co.uk.

A shortlist will be announced in October with winners announced in November.