Small Business Saturday Comes to York Outer
December 6, 2014
Julian was delighted to meet with a variety of local businesses for this year’s Small Business Saturday.
The campaign is now stronger than ever, and particularly relevant as 300,000 new small businesses have started trading under the coalition government.
On the importance of supporting small business Julian said, “I am delighted to again be involved with Small Business Saturday, and to have had the opportunity to meet the hard working employees, managers, and owners of local businesses.”
The Farmer’s Cart
Julian’s background in farming meant that he was particularly interested in meeting with Ed Sykes, who runs The Farmer’s Cart in Strensall.
Between April and October of this year, The Farmer’s Cart had 60,000 visitors from far and wide to their ‘Piglets Adventure Farm Park’.
The 152-acre farm lies at the heart of everything that goes on at The Farmer’s Cart, with strong links to the on-site farm shop and café, supplying everything from fresh produce to meats from the butchery.
Julian said, “It was great to hear about the success which The Farmer’s Cart are having, particularly following the opening of ‘Piglets’ in 2011, which is attracting people from further afield to the farm.”
Haxby Group Pharmacy
Julian also met with Richard Harrison and his team at Haxby Group Pharmacy, who have had tremendous success since their opening in November 2010.
The pharmacy is independently operated, and its rapid growth has seen Haxby Group Pharmacy become one of York’s busiest pharmacies, creating a total of 26 jobs.
Richard Harrison attributed much of the growth and success of the pharmacy to the National Apprenticeship Scheme. The pharmacy has just taken on its 10th apprentice, with 6 having gained full-time employment and the other 4 still in training.
Julian said, “It is great to see the Apprenticeship Scheme working so well locally, particularly how it has brought local communities together by offering employment opportunities, the capacity for rapid growth, and a great service.”
Blue Box Support
Business-to-Business operators often receive little coverage on Small Business Saturday. However, Mr Sturdy was very pleased to meet with Chris Cooper of Blue Box Support at another successful local business, “No 50,” a Coffee Shop in Haxby.
Blue Box Support is a small company which provides IT solutions for small businesses across York and North Yorkshire. The company was set up in 2012, and now has around 30 clients and is continuing to expand following a strong up-turn in 2013.
Following the meeting Julian said, “It was great to meet Chris and talk about the recent success of his business and the services he offers to other small businesses. Getting a strong online presence can be difficult and costly for small businesses, but Chris offers a great avenue for those looking to expand their profile, become more visible online, or have a specific IT problem.”
