Islington’s town centres, high streets and small businesses play a huge part in making Islington such a great place to live, work and visit. Andrew Paschalis has worked as a local economies officer in Finsbury Park for the last six years. He tells us how he and his team support local businesses, why this time of year is especially important for many of them and what you can do to show your support

Tell us a about your role as a local economies officer.

I cover all forms of business support in Finsbury Park, from the general day-to-day issues around waste, business rates and looking after the four traders’ associations in the area. right up to hosting events or putting on specialist workshops.

I also work with transport operators, the police, and other organisations in Islington, but also Hackney and Haringey because Finsbury Park sits across all three boroughs. A big part of what I do involves connecting people with the various teams around the councils, to make sure businesses get to the right person to support them in good time.

How important is the festive period for Islington’s high streets?

I used to work in our family clothing business on Fonthill Road, so I know just how important this time of year is for small businesses. For many in the hospitality and retail trade, it’s the time they make the most money, which gets them through quieter times of the year.

We can all help by shopping locally with smaller independent businesses and markets. You can often pick up something unique that you won’t find in the bigger stores, and you can’t beat the personalised customer service you get from smaller shops.

What are the biggest challenges for small businesses and high streets in Islington?

There are several! The big chain stores cut their prices to a level that smaller traders can’t compete with, and many people choose to buy online from large companies instead of heading for their local high street. Plus, of course, the cost of living is still very much a massive issue for many people, so they’re spending less.

When I was in business, I would say it can be a dream and a nightmare all wrapped into one! It’s great that you’re doing something on your terms most of the time and when it’s going well, it’s the best feeling in the world, but it can be such an unstable world and even the slightest changes can have a massive impact on your business.

How do you think small and independent businesses benefit from the council’s support?

Not all councils provide the kind of support that we give to small businesses in Islington. We help make them aware of the various grants, training and other opportunities that are available, which can often be difficult to find – and many small businesses simply don’t have the time or resource to do it themselves.

Ultimately, I think it’s the one-to-one, face-to-face support our team can provide businesses that is key. Our team works hard to build relationships with local businesses and has a really good understanding of what they need or could benefit from.

What role do you think campaigns like Small Business Saturday, community events in town centres or shop local campaigns play in boosting Islington’s economy?

Research consistently shows that when people shop locally, more money circulates within the community, benefiting other businesses, residents, and local services. These sorts of campaigns and events increase footfall, so more money is spent locally. Plus, it’s a chance for us to spotlight our fantastic small independent businesses. I’m pretty sure there is nothing you cannot find in Islington!

 Check out our tips to support small, independent and local businesses