I attended a round table event, hosted by the local Federation of Small Businesses in Saffron Walden. It was an opportunity to meet with businesses from across the constituency, including from Witham, Chesterford and Dunmow, and get a valuable insight into the difficulties they face.
We had a constructive discussion regarding broadband/digital connectivity, garden communities, pressures on local high streets and parking concerns in Saffron Walden.
We also talked about the detrimental effect that late payments from customers can have on small businesses, something which was particularly concerning to hear.
It was welcome to hear, however, the amount of work the FSB does to support local shops of all kinds across our constituency. It's vital we do everything we can to support these small businesses as, in many cases, they are our communities' heart and soul. I look forward to working with the FSB and assisting them in any way I can.
I was also glad I could congratulate Ann Holloway, from the Saffron Walden Museum , for receiving a certificate for being a long-standing community champion. Our towns and villages owe a lot to the hard work that people like Ann put in every day.
