Buyers urged to ‘think local’ as Cable backs YP

During 2012, we will be encouraging Yorkshire businesses to “think local” whenever they need to buy goods and services.

This will help small and medium-sized companies win valuable new contracts in the short term and strengthen the region’s supply chains in the long term.

The Yorkshire Post will highlight business opportunities for SMEs in the paper and online throughout the year. And it will showcase existing ‘buy local’ campaigns.

The Yorkshire Post will also campaign to shake up public sector procurement rules, which make it difficult for top companies to sell into local authorities and state bodies, even if they are considered to be world class.

Business Secretary Vince Cable has pledged his support. He said: “I am pleased to give my backing to this Yorkshire Post campaign and welcome efforts to encourage people and organisations to ‘Buy Yorkshire’.

“Buying local goods and services will benefit Yorkshire businesses and help boost the local economy, keeping jobs in the area and promoting growth across the region.

“Campaigns like this build on the work that the Government has already done to help generate growth in local economies, for example the creation of local enterprise partnerships and Enterprise Zones to tackle business challenges.

“Businesses in Yorkshire have also won support from the Regional Growth Fund, which will help deliver valuable new investment and jobs.”

The Yorkshire Post revealed details of the campaign at Friday’s annual dinner of the Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber and Commerce at The Queens hotel in Leeds.

Gary Williamson, chief executive, said: “The Chamber is pleased to support the Buy Yorkshire campaign. Choosing local suppliers is good for the regional economy, good for jobs and good for the environment.

“It may not always be possible to source a product or service locally, but we would encourage businesses to always think local in the first instance before looking further afield.”

Buy Yorkshire builds on the Yorkshire Post’s Fair Deal for Yorkshire campaign, which has been calling for investment in a region hit hard by public sector spending cuts. The new campaign promotes the virtues of self-help and collaboration.

To get involved, please email bernard.ginns@ypn.co.uk

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