Minister Urges NI Businesses To Maximise The Benefits Of The Spend Local Cards

In the run up to the launch of the High Street Voucher Scheme in Northern Ireland economy minister Gordon Lyons has urged all the businesses involved in the scheme to be proactive in supporting it in order to get the most value out of the promotion.

Scheme Open To Applications Soon

The scheme is open to applications from members of the public from the 27th September through to the 25th October, with an ad campaign being launched to encourage them to apply and shop local with the £100 Spend Local cards to give the economy a lift at this crucial time as we move out of the pandemic. There are promotional materials that are being made available so that businesses can promote the scheme which could be a real boost to the high street.

The Scheme Is Unprecedented In Northern Ireland

In an article on the Economy NI website Mr Lyons is quoted as saying:

“The High Street Scheme is designed to boost businesses across the retail, hospitality and services sectors following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is unprecedented in Northern Ireland, and I would urge all businesses to show their support to help maximise the benefits of the Spend Local cards. The first step should be to share the digital promotional materials on your social media platforms.

“I would also urge shoppers to use their Spend Local cards wisely to support the local economy and local communities. A little spend can have a big effect.”

In the same article Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts is also quoted, saying:

“The High Street Support Scheme is a welcome step in the long road to recovery for Northern Ireland’s retailers and I would encourage everyone in our industry to think hard about how they can encourage people to use their £100 Spend Local card with their business. It should be remembered that 70p in every pound spent in an independent retailer is recycled around the local economy. If consumers make a special effort to spend their £100 with local traders, then they will also be ensuring the money also goes towards invigorating the wider community.”

A Great Deal Of Uncertainty In The Industry

Lastly in the article Hospitality Ulster Chief Executive Colin Neil is quoted as saying:

“There is a great deal of uncertainty in the industry at the minute. The pandemic has had a devastating impact right across the sector. We welcome the introduction of the High Street Scheme, which is a great opportunity for people to support jobs of friends and family who work in hospitality while enjoying some of the best food and drink in the world.

“I would urge our members to download the digital materials and use them to promote the Spend Local cards across social media. It is vital we maximise the benefits of the scheme so we can all support our local hospitality businesses and our struggling high streets.”