As a small business owner, I have struggled to get any support in relation to the rates that are imposed upon small businesses within the Trafford area of Greater Manchester and as a result my business in under threat of closure!

I set up my business single handedly after leaving work in 2012 to pursue this. With no income I fought to get myself out there amongst the bigger business, I was successful and had been helped by a few, to get the recognition I believed was deserved. Initially I went to the customer, providing my pick up & drop off service, for clothing alterations & repairs, this was going well and I'd built up a customer base. I got myself a market stall where I was committed for twice a week, providing my service, with the hope of building a successful business, which in time I achieved.

As funds were limited , I applied for help from various governmental agencies, which were set up to help businesses, such as mine, this was to enable me to secure premises to which I could provide a dedicated service, as well as hoping to train and educate in sewing and machinist skills to benefit the community in which the business trades, thus getting people back into a dying trade! 

I have been working on this vision, of creating a training centre since 2011, looking to attract various sponsors etc, however I was unsuccessful in my plight, until November 2014 it was suggested I enter a local competition to win free rent & rates for a short period of time, which I was successful!

I then also went on to win an award in  November 2015, this was to help me role out my dream of creating a training centre for the community, as I'd set up a social enterprise which I called #ItTakesAllsorts (as that is exactly what it takes to enrich a local economy)

This  presence considerably boosted my business, as it was now visible on the high street, I managed to secure premises. With the help of my newly found employees, we built up and established the now thriving business, however with no  financial reserves and myself being in financial hardship, due to the extortionate rents,rates, etc I am unable to continue in the premises!

This in turn will affect all the employees of the company, including myself as it will create a loss in jobs, the local community will be affected as they will lose our invaluable services, and all the budding seamstresses/machinists interested in joining us, will lose a centre to gain new skills, which ultimately create jobs!

The local government should do more to help such businesses who have been set up to help our local communities by cutting, or even abolishing these rates until the companies (new small businesses) are well and truly established, which can take anything up to five years to find their place amongst other bigger businesses!