The Spend Local initiative was launched earlier this year in Northern Ireland, in response to the detrimental impact COVID-19 had on local businesses.
The Spend Local initiative is delivered by Northern Ireland’s Department for the Economy, and gives each eligible person a Spend Local £100 Prepaid Mastercard to use in local businesses by 14th December 2021. Applications for the initiative closed in October, with Economy Minister Gordon Lyons last month urging Spend Local card holders to make sure they check the balance left on their cards and to spend every penny of the balance.
“By now, nearly everyone who applied for their Spend Local card has received it. Hundreds of thousands of shoppers have already used theirs in all parts of Northern Ireland. Already we have injected around £90million in much needed-spend into our retail, hospitality and service sectors.
And it is working. The Northern Retail Consortium has reported that footfall is on the up while PwC recently predicted that spending on the high street will increase this Christmas.”
If you’re a Spend Local prepaid card holder, with some money left, why not spend it with one of your favourite local hair, beauty or wellness businesses this week? Highlighted recently on the Department for the Economy’s Twitter account was Lynsey Clenland, owner of Hair and Co. Newtonards:
All cards will expire on 14 December 2021. You will not be able to use the card after this date. Any balance remaining on the card after this date will be returned to the Department for the Economy.
