Dozens of small Rutland businesses are taking part in an initiative to boost their sales after lockdown.

The Rutland Garden Centre, north of Oakham, is hosting a variety of artists, artisans and businesses as part of their Small Business Summer initiative supporting local independents.

The event starts on Friday July 2 and runs until Tuesday August 31 and will feature more than 50 local businesses showing their wares and skills.

The idea for the venture arose from the Rutland Garden Village seeing how the the Global Pandemic and subsequent Lockdowns has had a devastating effect on local businesses, producers, crafts people, and artists.

The Garden Village also noted how it has been heartening to see, over the course of the last year, new home-based businesses springing up.

Earlier in the year, the garden centre at Ashwell Road, Langham, invited new and existing local businesses and artists to contact it about its 'Small Business Summer.'

From Friday, running until the end of August, the businesses and artists will be showcasing their products at the Garden Centre's conservatory in the middle of its site.

Furthermore, an Art, Craft, and Enterprise Fair will be held on the weekend of 31st

July and 1st August from 10am to 4pm both days.

Brand Ambassador for Rutland Garden Village, Miranda Jones, said: "We've been so heartened by the response to our initiative to support local enterprise.

"I've met some wonderful people doing amazing things in and around the county. I really hope people will come down and show their support – there will be something different going on almost every day!

"We have children's workshops running for 5 Wednesdays during the summer, and ESC artists who are exhibiting 3 times, will be holding a variety of artists workshops on a "show up and join in" basis on the Mondays and Tuesdays they are on site.

• Anybody interested in getting involved with Small Business Summer should contact Miranda at the Garden Village via email [email protected] or phone 07506

1. There will be no charge to any business wishing to get involved.

Full details can be found online here.