Helen Morgan praises ‘vital’ role of village shops

Shropshire MP Helen Morgan has praised the ‘vital’ role of village shops in the county after attending the 2024 Rural Shops Report by the Rural Services Network.

The 2024 Rural Shop Report, launched this week in Parliament, outlines the difference that the UK’s 18,000 rural shops make as secure local employers, as entrepreneurs investing and working with local businesses, and as essential service providers.

Key findings from the 2024 Rural Shop Report include:

• Rural shops employ over 170,000 people, the majority of which live very close and can walk to work.
• Rural consumers see convenience stores as the most essential service in their local area.
• Independent retailers in rural areas are at the heart of their community, with more than 4 in 5 engaging a range of different community activities over the past year.
• Rural shops generated £17.1bn in sales and over £3.8bn in GVA over the last year.

The report highlights the work that convenience retailers are doing to provide essential goods and services to communities across the country, but notes that there are significant challenges facing stores trading in rural areas.

Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, said, “Living in rural North Shropshire and spending time all over our county, I know first-hand how important village shops are.

“It was really interesting to attend the event on the new report from the Rural Services Network on our shops and how they act social hubs, stable employers, and providers of vital services.

“I know that many small businesses in Shropshire are struggling amidst the cost-of-living and doing business crisis, and will do all I can to fight for the support with energy and higher costs they need.”