Gloucestershire Bites Back: We launch new campaign to beat the credit crunch

Together we can beat the recession – with Gloucestershire Bites Back.

That's the message from local authorities, business organisations and even the Prime Minister.

The Citizen and its sister paper the Gloucestershire Echo has teamed up with a powerful group of organisations to launch the campaign to help us all through the economic downturn.

Gloucestershire Bites Back will be targeted at helping companies to keep up trade, consumers to save money and people to find a new or better job.

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And we have the backing of Gordon Brown. He said: "I would like to congratulate Gloucestershire Media on its Gloucestershire Bites Back campaign. It is fantastic to see the local media supporting its community and local businesses with such positive action and adding its weight to the network of government, business and local organisations working together to take the area through this tough time."

Along with our key partners, Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucester City Council, Cheltenham Borough Council and UCAS, we want to ensure that the county remains the place to do business whatever the economic weather.

We will also be talking to traders and businesses in the area, showcasing their products and services, and promoting exclusive offers to get our readers to shop locally and attract custom into the area.

Business experts will be offering advice and consumer experts will be pointing out money-saving tips and the best bargains to be had on the high streets.

We will also have exclusive offers and deals from some of the county's best businesses to help cash-strapped shoppers and boost the county's retailers.

If you're looking for a job there will be advice on how to get your CV to the top of the pile, and then how to dazzle in an interview.

Mr Brown said: "This is a global crisis but there is no doubt that the ramifications are being felt at every level, in every region and every town. I want to assure people in Gloucestershire, that we are working hard as a government to help individuals, businesses and communities through the challenges ahead. Today, we publish the Pre-Budget Report and you can be certain that we will do whatever it takes to see people through these difficult times. Together we can make sure Gloucestershire emerges secure and strong."

An early initiative is the setting up of the Gloucestershire Economic Taskforce by the county council's strategic partnership with the aim of helping small businesses through the recession.

And Cheltenham Borough Council is holding its first Business Pride conference to give support to businesses in these difficult times.

Ian Mean, editor-in-chief of Gloucestershire Media, said: "Gloucestershire Bites Back is a major initiative by Gloucestershire Media – with key partners like Gloucestershire County Council - to help local businesses and workers battle through the economic crisis. This campaign will last for several months and will go to the top of government to seek help for our firms and communities.

"I think it is significant that the Prime Minister himself, Gordon Brown, has put his full support behind us at the outset. As the initiative gains momentum, we hope we will receive backing and support from more councils and organisations who have our county's livelihood at heart."

Echo editor Kevan Blackadder said it was important that the entire Gloucestershire community supported the campaign.

"We all know we are in difficult times," he said. "But there are so many positive success stories all around us. It is important that we highlight those and at the same time help businesses of all kinds across the county.

"Through this campaign, we hope to not only help people find jobs but also line up offers that will save Echo readers money and bring business to traders in areas like Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and the Cotswolds."

To visit our Gloucestershire Bites Back site, click here