A TOTAL of £30,000 has been pledged towards an initiative to support independent retailers.

Following the announcement that Bridport Business Chamber is teaming up with popular e-commerce platform, ShopAppy, Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has committed £30,000 towards the scheme.

Bridport-based shops and business are being urged to take advantage of the free opportunity to secure more local trade and shoppers are encouraged to use the platform to support their local high street outlets.

Along with Bridport, four other towns across the county have signed up to take part - with groups from Bournemouth, Gillingham, Sherborne and Wimborne also partnering with the platform.

The site, which is backed by VISA, operates click and collect and delivery services to provide a local, town-based online platform where small businesses can create their own online shops and compete with the online retail giants.

Lorna Carver, director of Dorset LEP, said: “I am delighted to roll-out the ShopAppy.com platform across five of Dorset’s town areas. We have introduced a number of support initiatives in the last nine months and this is another important step for the region’s recovery, especially as it will benefit small businesses in some of the most rural areas of our county.

"There is no doubt that many small businesses have been severely impacted as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and we hope that this new initiative will help these businesses to keep trading during the ongoing restrictions.”

Those interested in signing up their business to the initiative can join the scheme free of charge at www.shopappy.com/vendor