With the economy improving and the High Street filling up, it is safe to say that small businesses are feeling more optimistic about the future than they have done for some time.

This is supported by “The Voice of Small Business” survey produced quarterly by the Federation of Small Business which is the largest small business survey in the country. This may be partly down the campaigning done by the FSB and others to highlight the plight of our High Streets and the profile raising brought about by campaigns such as “Keep Trade Local” and “Small Business Saturday”.

However one good Christmas season doesn’t make a recovery and whilst small businesses should of course thank their customers for their custom over the holiday period, let us hope that they have been able to show new customers what a great experience shopping locally is.

This is true not only in terms of great products they sell and the quality of service they offer, but also the resulting benefits that having a thriving town or village centre brings to a community. Let us hope that the New Year continues to brings people back out into the High Street for the sake of our market towns and villages and our local economies and communities.

CHARLES SMITH

Regional Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses

Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire