Local businesses form a significant part of the UK economy. As of 2018, small businesses accounted for 99.3% of the UK\u2019s private sector businesses<\/a>, as well as making up 60% of all private sector employment<\/a>. In other words, local businesses are significant creators of jobs \u2014 and they\u2019re also more likely to hire people who live locally, as opposed to relying on people commuting in long distances. What\u2019s more, the money you spend at a local business is far more likely to stay in the community. The people who live and work at local businesses spend their money locally, and local businesses are also more likely than big businesses to shop locally in turn. This is also better for the environment, since sourcing locally reduces the carbon footprint of supplies, products, and produce! So local businesses put money back into the community, strengthening the local economy and helping it continue to grow.<\/p>\n Local businesses don\u2019t only build a stronger economy \u2014 they also build a stronger community. Relationships between small businesses are important in creating a cohesive, welcoming community identity, with businesses supporting each other.<\/p>\n LockHouse is committed to building local links. We value our relationship with Heffers, supporting their fantastic board games section; we\u2019ve also got a great relationship with businesses up and down Regent Street. LockHouse\u2019s weekly RPG nights<\/a> are hosted just across the road by the wonderful Grain and Hop Store, and we\u2019re working on something extra special with De Luca<\/a> that you can find out about in the New Year! We\u2019ve collaborated with The North Pole<\/a> in offering competition prizes for seasonally fun experiences. LockHouse also provides prizes and raffle items for local schools and charities. We\u2019re super enthusiastic about working with Cambridge BID as they support local businesses in Cambridge, and proud to have won the BID\u2019s award for Best Overall Customer Experience in the Leisure\/Attraction category for 2019!<\/p>\n Even local businesses we don\u2019t work with directly, we are always happy to do a shout out for them on our blog. <\/a><\/p>\n Our favourite thing about small businesses, and the thing we\u2019re most proud of here at LockHouse, is the difference in customer service that a local business can provide. Local businesses are run by local people, who care about the community and want to support it. You can expect the staff of a local business to be truly committed to and enthusiastic about their business, working hard to make it the best that it can be with a genuine emotional connection to the business and the community.<\/p>\n Another effect of this is that small businesses are also more accountable to the community they\u2019re a part of. The people who make decisions regarding the business are a lot more accessible \u2014 rather than being in some far-distant office, they\u2019re around to engage with customers first-hand, meaning that local businesses are more in tune with what their customers think and feel.\u00a0 Reviews of LockHouse frequently mention how much difference the staff made to their experience. The people who work here are always ready to share local knowledge, aiming to listen to what our customers want and make sure that everyone\u2019s visit to Cambridge is as brilliant as it can possibly be.<\/p>\n In shopping locally, not only are you helping to strengthen the local economy, but you\u2019re more likely to find original and unique products! Rather than the same standard product or experience that a chain provides, local businesses can give you something that you couldn\u2019t find anywhere else in the world. Local competition gives the economy a kick, not only of profit, but of innovation, with small businesses constantly looking for new and exciting ways to grow.<\/p>\n One of the most common questions we get asked here at LockHouse is whether our escape rooms<\/a> are a part of a chain \u2014 the answer is no, they\u2019re unique! While some of the components come from specialised escape room suppliers, we\u2019ve built our own stories around them, coming up with our own clues, and designing\/building puzzles ourselves in store. This means that if you play one of our games, whether you\u2019re exploring an Egyptian tomb<\/a>, a villain\u2019s secret lair<\/a> or a space station<\/a>, you\u2019re guaranteed to find original puzzles and game components to make your game a truly unique experience.<\/p>\n The diversity of local businesses is a reflection of the diversity of the community that creates them. Cambridge\u2019s range of local businesses helps transform the city\u2019s streets, building a local character that\u2019s original and vibrant. Whether you\u2019re a local or one of the many visitors and tourists, we truly believe that Cambridge is a better and more interesting place thanks to its small business community.<\/p>\nLocal relationships<\/h2>\n
A part of the community<\/h2>\n
A unique experience<\/h2>\n