A trio of thriving Llangollen businesses are helping to spearhead a new drive to persuade people to support local businesses. Stans supermarket, the Pro Adventure outdoor shop and Lily Rose Interiors have all just joined the small and growing band of official ambassadors for the #LoveLiveLocal social media campaign.

The campaign is being supported by Denbighshire County Council to promote independent local shops, small companies and service providers and help them make the most of social media marketing. The big idea behind the campaign is that if a customer loves the product they have just bought at their local gift shop or is delighted with the restaurant meal they had, they can spread the word over Twitter or Facebook, simply adding #LoveLiveLocal, to help their business friends and neighbours.

Denbighshire Council leader Hugh Evans has invited businesses across the county to engage with the campaign, use the hashtag to promote themselves and ask their customers to use it too. He said: “There are so many fantastic businesses here in Denbighshire in all sorts of sectors from food and hotels, to shops selling uniquely made crafts and providers of first class services and unforgettable experiences. “We need to get the word out and make sure as many people as possible get to know about them and use them. “We call on the people of Denbighshire to show community spirit by supporting this bid to safeguard the future of our high streets. “Small businesses help create a thriving regional economy and provide vital jobs for local people. “That’s why we really want people to share their positive experiences and boost our #LoveLiveLocal campaign by passing on the message about how much they love shopping locally. “It’s part of our ongoing drive to develop and expand the local economy, promote shopping locally and encourage businesses to further explore the benefits of using social media.”

Among those throwing their weight behind the campaign is Stans supermarket on Berwyn Street where manager Steve Jones said: “I’ll be doing whatever I can to support it as an ambassador. “At Stans in Llangollen we’re very much in favour of supporting other businesses from the area and we stock items from 15 or 16 local suppliers alongside the main brands. “We also support local causes and in the four years since we opened in Llangollen we’ve donated about £2,500 to schools, football teams and the area’s Tidy Town team. “I think #LoveLiveLocal is useful as social media is such a valuable marketing tool and getting feedback about local businesses from the people who use them is very important.”

Another new #LoveLiveLocal ambassador in Llangollen is one of the town’s youngest businesses, Lily Rose Interiors, which opened in Castle Street just four months ago. It’s run by Jan Deeprose, who lives in the area and used her considerable background in retailing as a springboard to start her own shop selling a wide range of home and house wear, from candles and cushions to crockery and garden ornaments. She said: “I’m pleased to become as ambassador for #LoveLiveLocal as I know that social media is so vital for businesses these days. That’s why I’m on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. “It’s also so important to be doing something to support smaller local businesses, which is what the county council is doing with this campaign. “Being local is vital these days. I live and work in Llangollen, so I pride myself on knowing my local market and what people want and being able to pass the word about what businesses have to offer through this campaign all helps.”

Pete Carol, who has been running his Pro Adventure business in Llangollen since 1991 and now trades from the former Post Office in Castle Street. He said: “I’m pleased to be involved as I regularly use social media to help market my business, which is a specialist retailer for people who love the outdoors. “It’s not just about clothing and we stock items for walking, camping and bushcraft, such as such as axes and knives. “Through our presence on social media we pick up on local shares and retweets, which is good for business. “The #LoveLiveLocal campaign is an extension of that and I’m very pleased to be involved in it as it will certainly help to tell people about what’s good about using businesses in Llangollen and Denbighshire.”

Business rates will be changing on 1 April 2017. Have you checked your draft Rateable Value?

As part of our work on helping to develop the local economy we’re very aware of the impact that business rates can have on your business. It has been seven years since all non-domestic properties in England and Wales were revalued. The 2017 Revaluation will be based upon rental levels at 1 April 2015 and will form the basis of your business rates liability for the next five years.

It is important to understand the local implications of this Revaluation and the draft Rating List that was issued on 30 September 2016.

If you pay business rates in Denbighshire (or aren’t sure whether or not you need to) then we’d suggest going online, using the link below, to check your new draft rateable value and get an estimate of what your business rates will be from April 2017.

Visit the new tool and enter your postcode or street address.

What is the Rateable Value? 

The rateable value is assessed by the Valuation Office Agency, which is an executive function of HM Revenue and Customs.

A property’s rateable value is an assessment of the annual rent the property would achieve if it were available to let on the open market at a fixed valuation date.

• Until 31 March 2017, the rateable values will be based on a valuation date of 1 April 2008.
• From 1 April 2017, the rateable values will be based on the valuation date of 1 April 2015.

If you think your rateable value is incorrect, you can find and view your property details here. Once the new rateable values come into effect on 1 April 2017, you will be able to make an appeal.

What is a revaluation?

The VOA regularly reassess and update the rateable values of all business properties usually every five years. This is called a Revaluation. This is done to maintain fairness in the system by redistributing the total amount payable in business rates, reflecting changes in the property market. Revaluation does not raise extra revenue overall.

Roles and responsibilities?

The VOA sets the rateable value of business premises by using property details such as rental information. Denbighshire County Council uses the rateable value and the business rates multiplier (set by central government) to calculate your business rates bill.

Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR)

In Wales, the current scheme of SBRR will be extended to 2017-18 with the same criteria – business premises with a rateable value of up to £6,000 will receive 100% relief and those with a rateable value between £6,001 and £12,000 will receive relief on a tapered basis from 100% to zero.

Transitional Relief Scheme

The Welsh Government are consulting on proposals for a Transitional Relief Scheme. The scheme is aimed at helping businesses who currently receive SBRR and whose rateable Value has increased to meet the cost of their rates. This will assist those ratepayers who are no longer entitled to the same amount of SBRR as a result of an increase in their rateable value following the revaluation by gradually phasing in any increases in the amount they have to pay over a three-year period. This will provide additional support to more than 7,000 ratepayers.

How can I find out more?  

For more information on the 2017 Revaluation, rateable values, and business rates go to www.gov.uk/voa/revaluation

You can also estimate your business rates bill, including any small business rate relief the local council may apply.

For further information about the transitional rates relief please visit: www.businesswales.gov.wales/business-rates-relief-in-wales

Denbighshire County Councils Business Rates Page www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/business/business-rates/business-rates.aspx

A small grant could mean a great deal to a new start up business or to a businesses that just needs a little help to grow to the next stage.

Our Business Development Grant could help you buy that piece of equipment that leads to increased orders, develop eCommerce for your website to increase sales, help train you or an employee to encourage efficiency and competitiveness, or to improve your shop frontage with a new sign that attracts more business.

The grant is designed to help businesses make the most out of their capital investment and is there to encourage business growth as part of the councils work on developing the local economy.  Our strategy is to encourage healthy private business growth which in turn leads to a prosperous local economy and good jobs for local residents.

The Dangerous Food Company said “The grant made our growth manageable and easier.”

Read about their story here.

Grants of up to £5,000 can be awarded based on 50% of the cost of growing your business.  There’s a simple two stage process that takes only a short time to complete:

• Complete the Expression of Interest form to tell us a little about the business, the costs and what the grant is for. This helps us determine eligibility and benefit to the local economy.
• Completion of a Full Application when your Expression of Interest is You will be asked to provide more detail about the business and the reasons for needing the grant along with supporting information.

Stonework z Industries said “The grant has helped us grow according to our demand.”

Read about their story here.

You can work with advisers from Business Wales to receive advice and support throughout the process, making sure everything is planned out and the investment is the right thing for you and your business.

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