The REACH Local Magazine – Letter from the Editor
The REACH Local Magazine works with local businesses to build a more inclusive economy in Oxfordshire. REACH was established to provide socially sustainable digital and printed marketing opportunities to established businesses, excluded entrepreneurs, and non-profits in the Oxfordshire area. Alongside our magazine, we offer digital business portfolios as an alternative to a website and an early-stage micro-grant pathway to support these start-ups.
This magazine helps connect socially-minded readers with socially-minded businesses and excluded entrepreneurs in Oxfordshire. The platform provides marketing for local businesses to support start-up business owners with lived experience, reach more customers, and shout from the rooftops that they support an inclusive economy.
As a response to the pandemic, REACH Local’s parent company, PODTech Network CIC has supported 65 local excluded entrepreneurs to build websites for their brand. We quickly realised that the groups we supported lacked the resources, capacity, and finances to effectively market their businesses and drive traffic and sales to their website. With our support, these micro-business owners were able to take their business online – and from this, the REACH Local pathway was created.
Through businesses and consumers working together, we can create a more inclusive economy in Oxfordshire. Supporting local businesses and not-for-profits is the best way to redistribute wealth back into the community. 69% of the employment in the UK comes from small to medium businesses. Shopping and supporting local, and particularly startups, is the best way to provide meaningful employment and financial security to families.
