The UK is famously the nation of shopkeepers and our small and family businesses are the lifeblood of the economy with a massive role to play in the revival of the UK high street.

However, you would not have guessed it from looking at the track record of the last Conservative government over the last 14 years, and Labour’s since they were elected just 14 months ago.

From speaking to and visiting the many small businesses across the constituency I am acutely aware of the many urgent challenges they face whether its excessive red tape, energy costs or high taxes.

I will always do my bit to stand up for local businesses, so I thought I would use this week’s column to highlight the Tendring Business Fortnight. This is a programme of events that are taking place this and next week organised by Tendring4Growth which is part of Tendring District Council.

The aim of the Business Fortnight is to support and celebrate local enterprise. As such, not only is there the Tendring4Growth Business Awards, which is taking place next week on 2 October to conclude the fortnight, but also an ongoing programme of other free events running up to it. These events are being held in venues across Tendring on a range of different topics providing expert advice and opportunities for those attending to network with other business people.

In a similar vein, in January I set up and hosted the very first Clacton business surgery, with more than 100 attendees from the business community from right across the constituency. I am pleased to say that we are in the process of organising the next one. Details to follow on that but rest assured that I will do everything I can in the meantime to make sure Clacton, and in fact the entire UK, is open for business.