A SOCIAL media user who promotes Witney businesses through an online network wants to see the town prosper.

Valence Crescent resident Liam Walker set up the Twitter page Witney Hour a year ago and has seen the number of followers rise to more than 770. It has even won backing from David Cameron.

To mark the first anniversary, the 24-year-old has set up a website to encourage networking, created an awards scheme and has hopes of setting up a Groupon-style discounts offer in the town.

Mr Walker, who organised the first Armed Forces Day events in Witney and Carterton in June, when he was a hotel bar supervisor, said: “I do it because I love the area I live in and would rather see people use businesses here than travel anywhere else because it creates jobs and is good for the local economy.

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“We have great independent shops and some bigger companies as well, which on top of things like the free parking makes us very lucky.

“I had seen the idea on Twitter in other parts of the UK and realised there wasn’t anything going on here so thought I would set it up and see if anyone engaged with it.

“It’s become a campaign to use the hashtag to keep it local.”

Witney Gazette:

  • David Cameron supporting the twitter page

Mr Walker, also chairman of the Witney Conservative Future political group, created the Twitter page in October last year.

He also promotes the #witneyhour hashtag each Wednesday from 7pm to 8pm, when businesses and individuals can promote themselves and use it to find potential clients and suppliers.

About 30 companies on average use it each week and attended a first anniversary celebration at Witney Business and Innovation Centre yesterday.

At the event Mr Walker launched the Small Business Saturday awards in the town, an idea borrowed from American Express to reward small businesses each year.

Mr Walker, who said about eight businesses have opened in the town in the past three months, added: “It’s about sharing news and getting people to interact with these businesses.

“You get a coffee shop that’s opening and it can take pictures as it’s being built and keep people updated.

“It’s just a bit of fun but also quite serious as well and it’s great that people keep coming back to take part.

“The awards haven’t really been done before but it’s about encouraging people to shop locally, particularly around Christmas time.”

Nominations for the awards will open next month until Sunday, December 7, with a winner and two runners-up named three days later.

Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron said: “Witney is a great place to do business – it’s a growing and thriving town.

“We have a lot of independent businesses here and companies hiring staff and investing, so people should keep it local.”

 

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