Member Article

Small businesses bank almost third of money spent by Enfield Council

Almost a third of money spent by Enfield Council ends up in the tills of small businesses based in the borough, new figures have revealed.

As part of a drive to make sure that everything the council buys comes from a sustainable local source, Enfield Council has been working with suppliers which are based so as to ensure that the social, economic and environmental impact of purchasing items can be considered as well as value for money.

This works towards the Enfield 2020 vision to make Enfield a better place to live, work and visit.

In all 28% of the council’s spend is now with local companies (over the government target of 25%), and spending with small and medium businesses is 45%.

New policies being used by Enfield Council include promoting the London Living Wage to businesses in its supply chain, negotiating jobs for local people and long term unemployed, and ensuring bills are paid more quickly.

Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Business Development, Cllr Alan Sitkin, said: “Enfield Council is determined to do all it can to make people shop locally and work together with us to support local businesses. We do our bit by spending locally when we can, and advertising opportunities widely in the borough which encourage job creation.

“To help even further we will shortly be setting up new ‘Town Teams’ whose role will be as a one-stop-shop for all businesses in the borough, offering free professional advice on everything related to commerce in Enfield.

“These new figures show, clearly, that Enfield is putting its money where its mouth is, boosting local businesses and making our borough a place to invest and build. It’s a real ethical approach to business that benefits the entire borough.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .