Former small-business ambassador Justin Tomlinson MP has met with the Nationwide Caterers Association who represent independent food & drink businesses up and down the country.
The NCA are a membership organisation which provides support services for independent food & drink businesses in a number of different ways. From compliance advice to lobbying MPs & Ministers, they act as a trade body for cafes, restaurants, coffee vans, food vans and caterers.
Locally, Justin has met with many of their members and was keen to discuss the key issues including VAT, business rates as well as cost implications of the National Living Wage.
Justin commented, “I am a passionate advocate of local, independent businesses. I will always try and buy from an independent rather than a chain – I get my coffee from Sugar Shack, Project Coffee or Café Vialottie over Costa or Starbucks; and I enjoy chicken from Gurt Wings over KFC any day! So meeting the NCA gave a really interesting insight into how we can better support local businesses who are competing with the big national chains, and how Government can further support them too. I will continue to raise these issues in Parliament as I have done in the past, and will continue to meet with the NCA to discuss the latest, topical issues.”
