A small Edinburgh pizza shop and social enterprise relies on continuous business from locals to support other projects giving out free school meals to kids who need them during the summer holidays.
Fin Clarkson is food services manager at Space, a community Hub in Broomhouse. It operates a community café as well as Outta Space Pizza and Fin urged people to shop local this summer as it is essential to small businesses' survival.
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He said Outta Space Pizza is not only a small business but an essential social enterprise that gives invaluable resources and opportunities to the people of Broomhouse. But it relies on income from the business side of the operation to continue its charitable work.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live Finn said: “It’s hard out there at the moment - both for local businesses and the communities they serve.
“At Space, we are working hard to support local people through regular community meals, cooking classes and food education as well as an employability pathway from our Training Academy courses to paid employment within our social enterprises.
"Coming up we have our Kids Go Free no-questions-asked free school holiday meal provision which is a key part of our community focus.
“Keeping money in the local community is really important, and local businesses and social enterprises play a massive part in this."
He continued: "Our growing working lunch event catering and Outta Space Pizza create fantastic produce in Broomhouse that has the dual benefit of raising the profile of social enterprise and enabling us to reinvest the money into our services in Edinburgh’s southwest.
“We couldn’t deliver these services without the support of the community around us and, in these challenging times, that support is more important than ever before.
"By loving local this summer, people can discover all the amazing experiences that we have on our doorstep - while supporting local enterprises that keep millions of pounds worth of spending in local communities.
“That support will allow us to make Edinburgh an even better place to live, work and visit.”
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Recent research that was carried out by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), found nine-in-ten businesses in Edinburgh and the Lothians say the support of local people is critical to their survival as they battle continued unprecedented challenges.
The statistic has been revealed by the Scotland Loves Local campaign as it issues a rallying cry for people to choose local this summer and support enterprises - and protect jobs - in their community, unlocking millions of pounds worth of spending.
You can find out more about supporting businesses in your community here.
