Ayrshire Connect is all about joining up some of the dots to help local business reach more local customers and are committed to working with marketing initiatives from all directions. Here's how you can get involved with Scotland Loves Local.

About Scotland Loves Local

The Scotland Loves Local campaign is a national initiative designed to encourage all those who live in Scotland to think local first and support their  high streets safely and in line with public health guidelines. The outbreak of Coronavirus has caused significant challenges for our town centres, high streets and local businesses. They have lost out on vital trade because they had to close to keep us safe. Many of them have gone to enormous lengths to support the most vulnerable people in our communities.

As Scotland begins to ease lockdown restrictions and move into recovery, now is the time to support them to get back on their feet. However, we know coronavirus is still a significant risk to local communities and so it is important that people continue to follow the public health guidelines and take care.

Scotland’s towns are a gateway to our past. They are a rich tapestry of Scottish history and our journey to becoming the society and nation we are now. Scotland loves local.

But our high streets aren’t just a series of buildings where things are bought and sold. The people who run local businesses are our brothers and sisters, our friends, our aunts and uncles, our neighbours. Whether it’s an emergency pint of milk, catching up with old friends at Christmas in the local pub or offering a lovely coffee when there’s no big chain available, our high streets have always been there for us.

Our small businesses, whether a pub, cafe, tailor, butcher or a grocery shop, are the lifeblood of our Scottish economy. They take risks each and every day to create jobs and prosperity to maintain our way of life. Now is the time to support them to get back on their feet. Now is the time to be there for them. Now is the time to think local first. This isn’t just about keeping shop units occupied, it’s about supporting the very fabric of our society and community.

Whether it’s a book, or a pint of milk, a night out and a meal, a bedside table or some garden furniture, we’re asking you to take care and think local first.

How Can Businesses get involved?

The aim of the Scotland Loves Local campaign is to reach as many people as possible about the importance of thinking local first. We want as many individuals and organisations to get involved in the campaign and help spread the word!

There are lots of ways you can join the fightback:

1. Think local first yourself.
2. Share and retweet messages from the campaign from @Scotlandstowns on Twitter, Scotland’s Towns Partnership on Facebook.
3. Make sure you remain aware of the Scottish Government’s public health guidelines.
4. Use your social media to promote the campaign graphics and video contained in our online folder using #ScotlandLovesLocal.
5. Use the Scotland Loves Local campaign pack and branding toolkit to create your own images and content that reflects your local area and share it using #ScotlandLovesLocal. You can view the recording of our webinar on how to use these resources in your own campaign.
6. When you do use your town centre, post on your social media using #ScotlandLovesLocal with a photo of you using your local high street.
7. Use your social media platforms to share information about your local businesses and the fantastic products they have on offer.
8. Send a letter to your local paper supporting the campaign and urging them to get behind it too.
9. Partner with the campaign through sponsorship or by discussing specific partnership opportunities. Read more here and contact Rhona Brown.
10. Contact your local Councillor, MSP or MP and encourage them to support the campaign.