Cheltenham BID chief calls on the Chancellor to help businesses cut their costs
The Cheltenham BID supports over 800 businesses in the town centre, it encourages peoples to spend locally to keep the town centre thriving
The Cheltenham BID is a business led body formed to improve a defined commercial area. It's funded by business for the benefit of those businesses.
In the Cheltenham BID there are over 800 businesses.
We talked to CEO Julie Reader-Sullivan ahead of the annual budget announcements to find out what can be done to help businesses in Cheltenham thrive.
Julie told us, ''Anything that helps businesses reduce their costs and encourages people to shop locally would be really helpful. I know how tough that is. Everybody has a challenge at the moment.''
''I had my own business in the 2008 recession and I have to say that looking at what we're all coping with now, it does feel a lot worse.''
Looking ahead to the announcement, Julie said, ''the 20% cut to the business rates for the hospitality sector is great and hopefully a commitment to not raising income tax, VAT or national insurance would be amazing.''
We asked Julie why the government need to show their support for local businesses, and why supporting local matters now more than ever.
She said, ''Our towns are a real social hub and they're a place that we go for everything. If you don't use them and if there isn't support for them, then of course there's a risk that things deteriorate.''
The Cheltenham BID are there to protect and support the town centre through projects like the Cheltenham gift card, Christmas in Cheltenham and introducing new Community Safety Officers.
She says, support for local businesses will continue no matter what, but we can all do more to support local and keep our high streets alive.
''If everyone living in Cheltenham, came into Cheltenham at the weekend and spent 10 pounds each, that would have a massive impact on retail, hospitality and leisure.
To everybody listening to the budget tomorrow, try and maybe pedal back on your online retail and at least come into the town centre and spend a bit of money!''