People are being urged to ‘Keep it Local’ to support local businesses in the economic fallout of Covid-19.

Residents and businesses are now being urged to look locally for the items and services they need and in turn support the local people and families behind them.

The council is throwing its support to the cause by launching a ‘Keep it Local’ campaign as part of its wider community wealth building approach. The campaign’s focus will be on encouraging local spend and use of local supply chains to enable the area to build back a better economy.

Council leader Joe Cullinane said: “But it’s not just about people shopping local. It’s also about businesses harnessing local suppliers and tapping into the skills and experience of the area’s workforce by employing local.

"The pandemic has had a devastating effect on all our lives – not only in terms of health, but also in terms of our livelihoods.

“As lockdown eases and we take steps towards a new normal, it’s an opportunity for us to support our local businesses and help them get back on their feet.

“Our economy is a fragile one, susceptible to big shocks and the pandemic has rocked local businesses. We’re committed to supporting our business base to build back better, fairer and greener.

“We recently launched our Community Wealth Building strategy which aims to use the public pound in North Ayrshire to support local businesses and create new democratic models of ownership, including worker co-operatives, to create good, well paid jobs.

“The need for local people, businesses and anchor institutions to spend locally is an essential pillar of that strategy."

‘Keep it Local’ forms part of the council’s ongoing work to encourage local spend, investment and employment – supporting Scotland’s first Community Wealth Building strategy, to create a fairer North Ayrshire.

The strategy can be found online at: www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/cwb