DELYN'S MP is calling on local shopkeepers to enter the best small shop competition.

David Hanson MP is encouraging shopkeepers to enter the competition which aims to celebrate the creativity of small shops and the central role they play in their local community.

The Best Small Shops Competition is open to any small shop operating in the UK. The competition is free to enter and all shops who enter will also be promoted to consumers through an online Indie Retail Directory.

Mr Hanson said: "Our high streets are the beating heart of our towns and small independent traders are the lifeblood of those high streets.

"I know numerous small shops in Delyn that go above and beyond in providing goods and services that you would never find from a large national retailer.

"The attention to detail and the strong relationship with customers has always been key for our small shops and that is why I know that at least one Delyn shop should be in the running for this award."

Shopkeepers can nominate their businesses until Monday, September 9 via

www.bestsmallshops.co.uk

.

A shortlist of 25 of the most impressive applications will be shortlisted by a panel made up of established representatives from the independent retail industry.

The judges will be looking for evidence of a small shops’ entrepreneurial spirit, ways that they have been innovative in their business and what they have done to have a lasting positive impact on their community.

The shortlisted small shops will be invited to a Parliamentary Reception on November, 5 2019 to meet their Member of Parliament and find out who will be crowned the Best Small Shop for 2019.

Mr Hanson added: "Schemes like this are of the utmost importance. They ensure that the shopkeepers get the recognition they deserve in keeping our towns the vibrant places we all want them to be.

"In these tough economic times we can look to the high street as a bell weather of our towns health.

"Our main towns in Delyn of Holywell, Mold, Flint and Caerwys are all finding new and interesting ways to support their shops and I hope that people will get nominating so that a Delyn small shop gets the recognition it deserves."