Our local High Streets are at the very heart of our rural Mid Norfolk towns – and are vital in helping to ensure our communities are thriving and vibrant.

That’s why I take our High Streets so seriously (working with local councillors, businesses and communities to breathe fresh life into them) – and why I relished the opportunity to drop in and visit businesses up and down Attleborough High Street this past Friday.

Joined by local district councillors Samantha and Taila Taylor, it was great to catch up with so many old faces – and meet some new. Having had a fifteen year entrepreneurial career before coming to Parliament, and having previously served as a Business Minister, I know the immense value our small and independent businesses have to our local community and economy. They are the real engine that drives forward our High Streets.

I appreciated the chance to hear from store owners and staff first-hand about the challenges and opportunities they are currently facing and am firmly committed, as ever, to speaking up on behalf of them at the very highest levels, as well as promoting them locally.

The run up to Christmas is a key time for them all – so I encourage everyone to #BuyLocal. With incredible bakers, butchers, jewellery stores, craft shops, cafes and more, Attleborough has so much to offer.

(To see more about my wider work ‘Backing Local Businesses’, please visit my campaign page here)