Brent Council has announced two pieces of support for small businesses – free parking in the run up to Christmas, and the Small Business Saturday award winners.
Shoppers in Brent will be able to park for free on the weekends leading up to Christmas in 11 car parks across Brent. In addition, all council car parks will be free on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, to manage demand and provide an alternative to on-street parking.
Cllr Krupa Sheth, Brent Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for parking, said: “Small businesses are the life blood of the local economy, providing jobs and services and adding to the unique diversity of Brent, so we are keen to support our local businesses in whatever way we can.
“I hope that providing free parking across sites in the borough at one of the busiest times of the year for businesses will help those who do shop locally to stay loyal, and for those who tend to drive out of the borough to shop, to encourage them to see what local high streets in the borough have to offer.”
Meanwhile, the winners of the best local businesses and independent retailers in Brent have been announced.
The second Small Business Saturday Awards, which celebrate small businesses in the borough, saw over 60 local businesses step forward to showcase what makes them stand out from the crowd.
Tamariz Deli, Rubio, Classic Brent Autos, Lounge Café, Mahogany and La Bottega di Anna were among those to beat stiff competition and win the first place in their category. Highly commended awards were given to businesses who narrowly missed out on the top spot, including Cuore Italian Deli, Finezja restaurant, and Sanzio.
Business associations such as Willesden Green Town Team, Harlesden Business Association and Wembley Traders Association were also awarded for their commitment to collaboration and community focus.
Cllr Shama Tatler, Lead Member for Regeneration, Highways, and Planning, said: “It was fantastic to see so many strong entries this year from both new and established businesses in Brent. Through these Small Business Saturday Awards, we want to recognise and showcase the great range of independent businesses and retailers that we have in the borough.”
