DEESIDE'S MP is calling on shopkeepers to enter a UK wide competition.

Mark Tami MP is asking small shopkeepers in his constituency to enter the Best Small Shop Competition, celebrating the creativity of small shops and the central role they play in their local community.

The Best Small Shops Competition is open to any small shop operating in the UK. The competition is free to enter and all shops who enter will also be promoted to consumers through an online Indie Retail Directory.

Shopkeepers can nominate their businesses until Monday, September 9 via www.bestsmallshops.co.uk. A shortlist of 25 of the most impressive applications will be shortlisted by a panel made up of established representatives from the independent retail industry.

The judges will be looking for evidence of a small shops’ entrepreneurial spirit, ways that they have been innovative in their business and what they have done to have a lasting positive impact on their community.

The shortlisted small shops will be invited to a Parliamentary Reception on November, 5 to meet their Member of Parliament and find out who will be crowned the Best Small Shop for 2019.

Mr Tami said: "Small shops play a vital, yet often undervalued, role in local communities. I think it is important to celebrate the contribution that they make and that is why I am supportive of these awards.

"I encourage any small shop in Alyn and Deeside to apply, it would be great to welcome local shop owners down to Parliament."

The entries for 2019’s Best Small Shop competition are now open and can be submitted online at

www.bestsmallshops.co.uk

.

Entries close on Monday, September 9.