Jim has extended his congratulations to James Graven’s Budgens in Soham who reached the final of the recent Parliamentary Best Small Shop competition following his nomination.

The competition is in its second year and aims to promote the nation’s most unique small shops that go above and beyond in supporting their local community. Judges were impressed by James Graven’s community involvement and specifically the partnership they have with the local police, the nutritional and food budgeting advice they offer via the local Children’s’ Centre and their recent ‘Baby Budgens’ initiative in which they opened a mini-shop in Millbrook House supported accommodation living in Soham.

Jim said, ‘The fact that this local business reached the finals of this competition shows the great lengths to which they have gone to support our local community. All small businesses need our support at the moment and it is great to have this opportunity to highlight the great local work being done by James Graven here in Soham.’

Although the shop did not win overall they were amongst the ten finalists and fought off stiff competition from over 70 other nominated shops around the country.