Gift Focus - Jul/Aug 2019 (Issue 114)

138 How to succeed on the high street Dave Stallon, commercial director at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), discusses how independent companies are integral to the fabric of a community Whether it’s small firms volunteering for local causes, providing support for local schools or football clubs or employing those furthest from the labour market, small businesses are the beating hearts of their neighbourhoods. For example, let’s look at the butchers who raised cash to install a defibrillator and train up local people to be able to use it, the decorating business that organises “meet your neighbours” days on a local estate and the waste company that takes part in a programme aimed at getting ex-offenders back into work, helping to train and develop their skills. As most small business owners know, time is undoubtedly a precious commodity. Yet most of those in the sector still generously manage to find time and resources to help others in their communities. This is precisely why we at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) decided to investigate just how those running small firms interact and contribute to their local villages, towns and cities across the UK and what can be done to support and nurture this going forward. AGENTS OF SOCIAL CHANGE Amazingly, we found that 80 per cent of small firms have  contributed to their local community or charity in the past three years. The North East tops the regions in terms of community engagement, with an incredible 91 per cent of firms giving something back.