MP Sir Mark Hendrick is calling on small shopkeepers in Preston to enter the Best Small Shops Competition.

This competition celebrates the successes of small shops and the central role they play in their local community, particularly in response to COVID-19.

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

All shops who enter will also be promoted to consumers through an online Indie Retail Directory.

Shopkeepers can nominate their businesses until Friday 11 September 2020 via the competition’s website.

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

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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.

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Sir Mark said: “No doubt it has been a very tough time for small shops in Preston. Small businesses have had to find innovative ways to maintain trading, including taking action to keep staff and customers safe; working to retain communications with the local community and adopting different strategies to reach new customer bases.

“I would urge people to continue supporting their local shops and hope that Preston’s shopkeepers will consider entering this competition.”

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Tell us about your favourite small shop in the comments below.