Rewrite the provided article:
Danny Lawson/PADespite the bustle of Christmas shoppers in Leeds, small businesses are sharing their concerns about the upcoming challenges they face.
In Labour’s first budget in 14 years, chancellor Rachel Reeves raised employer National Insurance contributions and announced minimum wage increases.
Traders in the city’s Corn Exchange had the opportunity to express their worries directly with Reeves, Leeds West and Pudsey MP, on Friday.
‘We’re not just here for one month, we’re here for twelve,” one warns.
Gemma Dillon/BBCDeborah Bellamy, who runs the Hidden Wardrobe clothing shop, has noticed a growing trend of “price conscious” shoppers in the last couple of years who select single items rather than three or four.
‘We’ve found it difficult – we’ve got rising costs, we’ve got rising product costs, we’ve got rising costs with minimum wage,” she says.
“We’ve got to the stage now where we can’t employ the people we want to employ so I’ve got to work longer hours.”
The shift to online shopping has also affected the amount people willing to spend in her store, she says.
The public is being urged to show support for small businesses as part of an annual event on Saturday promoting the sector.
Organisers say Small Business Saturday could provide a “lifeline” for smaller companies in the important run-up to Christmas.
Gemma Dillon/BBCThe campaign group said the public is expected to direct up to a fifth of its Christmas spending towards independent firms, meaning the small business economy could tap into around £4.4bn nationally.
Sonia Pounder opened flower shop Attic in Bloom in 2023 and is feeling uncertain about the current economic climate.
She says Christmas is always a busy time of year for flower shops, but is worried how much disposable income people will have to spend on “extras” in the new year.
“We’re not just here for one month, we’re here for twelve,” she says.
“We had a particularly disappointing October and it’s scary.”
The florist accepts that it is “difficult to say flowers are something you need”, with shoppers prioritising family essentials.
Ms Pounder is braced for a “challenging time” after Christmas and would like to see the chancellor address high business rates faced by many shop owners.
Danny Lawson/PAReeves, who spent time talking to businesses in the Corn Exchange, attempted to reassure shop owners about the support they will gain from the government.
“Look at some of the detail in the budget, because the smallest businesses will be paying less or no national insurance because of the changes I announced,” she says.
“We increased the employment allowance to £10,500 and so no national insurance will be paid until the bill gets to £10,500.”
She continues: “I met one small business today who employs three people and she didn’t know about those changes.
“It means next year she is unlikely to pay any national insurance at all whereas this year she is paying national insurance.”
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Soundscatch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
into a high-quality, completely original piece for my website.
The rewritten article must:
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Danny Lawson/PADespite the bustle of Christmas shoppers in Leeds, small businesses are sharing their concerns about the upcoming challenges they face.
In Labour’s first budget in 14 years, chancellor Rachel Reeves raised employer National Insurance contributions and announced minimum wage increases.
Traders in the city’s Corn Exchange had the opportunity to express their worries directly with Reeves, Leeds West and Pudsey MP, on Friday.
‘We’re not just here for one month, we’re here for twelve,” one warns.
Gemma Dillon/BBCDeborah Bellamy, who runs the Hidden Wardrobe clothing shop, has noticed a growing trend of “price conscious” shoppers in the last couple of years who select single items rather than three or four.
‘We’ve found it difficult – we’ve got rising costs, we’ve got rising product costs, we’ve got rising costs with minimum wage,” she says.
“We’ve got to the stage now where we can’t employ the people we want to employ so I’ve got to work longer hours.”
The shift to online shopping has also affected the amount people willing to spend in her store, she says.
The public is being urged to show support for small businesses as part of an annual event on Saturday promoting the sector.
Organisers say Small Business Saturday could provide a “lifeline” for smaller companies in the important run-up to Christmas.
Gemma Dillon/BBCThe campaign group said the public is expected to direct up to a fifth of its Christmas spending towards independent firms, meaning the small business economy could tap into around £4.4bn nationally.
Sonia Pounder opened flower shop Attic in Bloom in 2023 and is feeling uncertain about the current economic climate.
She says Christmas is always a busy time of year for flower shops, but is worried how much disposable income people will have to spend on “extras” in the new year.
“We’re not just here for one month, we’re here for twelve,” she says.
“We had a particularly disappointing October and it’s scary.”
The florist accepts that it is “difficult to say flowers are something you need”, with shoppers prioritising family essentials.
Ms Pounder is braced for a “challenging time” after Christmas and would like to see the chancellor address high business rates faced by many shop owners.
Danny Lawson/PAReeves, who spent time talking to businesses in the Corn Exchange, attempted to reassure shop owners about the support they will gain from the government.
“Look at some of the detail in the budget, because the smallest businesses will be paying less or no national insurance because of the changes I announced,” she says.
“We increased the employment allowance to £10,500 and so no national insurance will be paid until the bill gets to £10,500.”
She continues: “I met one small business today who employs three people and she didn’t know about those changes.
“It means next year she is unlikely to pay any national insurance at all whereas this year she is paying national insurance.”
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Soundscatch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
, while maintaining the same key facts, dates, and quotes. The new text should feel completely fresh, naturally flowing, and as if written from scratch by a professional human news editor.
Retain all people’s declarations in quotation marks (” “) exactly as they appear in
Danny Lawson/PADespite the bustle of Christmas shoppers in Leeds, small businesses are sharing their concerns about the upcoming challenges they face.
In Labour’s first budget in 14 years, chancellor Rachel Reeves raised employer National Insurance contributions and announced minimum wage increases.
Traders in the city’s Corn Exchange had the opportunity to express their worries directly with Reeves, Leeds West and Pudsey MP, on Friday.
‘We’re not just here for one month, we’re here for twelve,” one warns.
Gemma Dillon/BBCDeborah Bellamy, who runs the Hidden Wardrobe clothing shop, has noticed a growing trend of “price conscious” shoppers in the last couple of years who select single items rather than three or four.
‘We’ve found it difficult – we’ve got rising costs, we’ve got rising product costs, we’ve got rising costs with minimum wage,” she says.
“We’ve got to the stage now where we can’t employ the people we want to employ so I’ve got to work longer hours.”
The shift to online shopping has also affected the amount people willing to spend in her store, she says.
The public is being urged to show support for small businesses as part of an annual event on Saturday promoting the sector.
Organisers say Small Business Saturday could provide a “lifeline” for smaller companies in the important run-up to Christmas.
Gemma Dillon/BBCThe campaign group said the public is expected to direct up to a fifth of its Christmas spending towards independent firms, meaning the small business economy could tap into around £4.4bn nationally.
Sonia Pounder opened flower shop Attic in Bloom in 2023 and is feeling uncertain about the current economic climate.
She says Christmas is always a busy time of year for flower shops, but is worried how much disposable income people will have to spend on “extras” in the new year.
“We’re not just here for one month, we’re here for twelve,” she says.
“We had a particularly disappointing October and it’s scary.”
The florist accepts that it is “difficult to say flowers are something you need”, with shoppers prioritising family essentials.
Ms Pounder is braced for a “challenging time” after Christmas and would like to see the chancellor address high business rates faced by many shop owners.
Danny Lawson/PAReeves, who spent time talking to businesses in the Corn Exchange, attempted to reassure shop owners about the support they will gain from the government.
“Look at some of the detail in the budget, because the smallest businesses will be paying less or no national insurance because of the changes I announced,” she says.
“We increased the employment allowance to £10,500 and so no national insurance will be paid until the bill gets to £10,500.”
She continues: “I met one small business today who employs three people and she didn’t know about those changes.
“It means next year she is unlikely to pay any national insurance at all whereas this year she is paying national insurance.”
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Soundscatch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
, incorporating them naturally into the rewritten text.
Preserve all original HTML tags from
Danny Lawson/PADespite the bustle of Christmas shoppers in Leeds, small businesses are sharing their concerns about the upcoming challenges they face.
In Labour’s first budget in 14 years, chancellor Rachel Reeves raised employer National Insurance contributions and announced minimum wage increases.
Traders in the city’s Corn Exchange had the opportunity to express their worries directly with Reeves, Leeds West and Pudsey MP, on Friday.
‘We’re not just here for one month, we’re here for twelve,” one warns.
Gemma Dillon/BBCDeborah Bellamy, who runs the Hidden Wardrobe clothing shop, has noticed a growing trend of “price conscious” shoppers in the last couple of years who select single items rather than three or four.
‘We’ve found it difficult – we’ve got rising costs, we’ve got rising product costs, we’ve got rising costs with minimum wage,” she says.
“We’ve got to the stage now where we can’t employ the people we want to employ so I’ve got to work longer hours.”
The shift to online shopping has also affected the amount people willing to spend in her store, she says.
The public is being urged to show support for small businesses as part of an annual event on Saturday promoting the sector.
Organisers say Small Business Saturday could provide a “lifeline” for smaller companies in the important run-up to Christmas.
Gemma Dillon/BBCThe campaign group said the public is expected to direct up to a fifth of its Christmas spending towards independent firms, meaning the small business economy could tap into around £4.4bn nationally.
Sonia Pounder opened flower shop Attic in Bloom in 2023 and is feeling uncertain about the current economic climate.
She says Christmas is always a busy time of year for flower shops, but is worried how much disposable income people will have to spend on “extras” in the new year.
“We’re not just here for one month, we’re here for twelve,” she says.
“We had a particularly disappointing October and it’s scary.”
The florist accepts that it is “difficult to say flowers are something you need”, with shoppers prioritising family essentials.
Ms Pounder is braced for a “challenging time” after Christmas and would like to see the chancellor address high business rates faced by many shop owners.
Danny Lawson/PAReeves, who spent time talking to businesses in the Corn Exchange, attempted to reassure shop owners about the support they will gain from the government.
“Look at some of the detail in the budget, because the smallest businesses will be paying less or no national insurance because of the changes I announced,” she says.
“We increased the employment allowance to £10,500 and so no national insurance will be paid until the bill gets to £10,500.”
She continues: “I met one small business today who employs three people and she didn’t know about those changes.
“It means next year she is unlikely to pay any national insurance at all whereas this year she is paying national insurance.”
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Soundscatch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
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Exclude all references to the original source or publication, ensuring no identifiable details about
Danny Lawson/PADespite the bustle of Christmas shoppers in Leeds, small businesses are sharing their concerns about the upcoming challenges they face.
In Labour’s first budget in 14 years, chancellor Rachel Reeves raised employer National Insurance contributions and announced minimum wage increases.
Traders in the city’s Corn Exchange had the opportunity to express their worries directly with Reeves, Leeds West and Pudsey MP, on Friday.
‘We’re not just here for one month, we’re here for twelve,” one warns.
Gemma Dillon/BBCDeborah Bellamy, who runs the Hidden Wardrobe clothing shop, has noticed a growing trend of “price conscious” shoppers in the last couple of years who select single items rather than three or four.
‘We’ve found it difficult – we’ve got rising costs, we’ve got rising product costs, we’ve got rising costs with minimum wage,” she says.
“We’ve got to the stage now where we can’t employ the people we want to employ so I’ve got to work longer hours.”
The shift to online shopping has also affected the amount people willing to spend in her store, she says.
The public is being urged to show support for small businesses as part of an annual event on Saturday promoting the sector.
Organisers say Small Business Saturday could provide a “lifeline” for smaller companies in the important run-up to Christmas.
Gemma Dillon/BBCThe campaign group said the public is expected to direct up to a fifth of its Christmas spending towards independent firms, meaning the small business economy could tap into around £4.4bn nationally.
Sonia Pounder opened flower shop Attic in Bloom in 2023 and is feeling uncertain about the current economic climate.
She says Christmas is always a busy time of year for flower shops, but is worried how much disposable income people will have to spend on “extras” in the new year.
“We’re not just here for one month, we’re here for twelve,” she says.
“We had a particularly disappointing October and it’s scary.”
The florist accepts that it is “difficult to say flowers are something you need”, with shoppers prioritising family essentials.
Ms Pounder is braced for a “challenging time” after Christmas and would like to see the chancellor address high business rates faced by many shop owners.
Danny Lawson/PAReeves, who spent time talking to businesses in the Corn Exchange, attempted to reassure shop owners about the support they will gain from the government.
“Look at some of the detail in the budget, because the smallest businesses will be paying less or no national insurance because of the changes I announced,” she says.
“We increased the employment allowance to £10,500 and so no national insurance will be paid until the bill gets to £10,500.”
She continues: “I met one small business today who employs three people and she didn’t know about those changes.
“It means next year she is unlikely to pay any national insurance at all whereas this year she is paying national insurance.”
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Soundscatch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
remain.
Be between 800–1,200 words long, with clear subheadings for readability.
Provide only the final rewritten article text with all original HTML tags properly retained and integrated. Ensure the content reads naturally, as if written by a skilled human journalist, with no robotic tone or AI-like repetition. Do not include any notes, explanations, or commentary.
What measures is the government considering to address the concerns of small business owners like Sonia Pounder, such as high business rates?
The provided text discusses the current economic climate’s impact on small businesses, highlighting the concerns of flower shop owner Sonia Pounder.
It mentions that a campaign group predicts the public will allocate up to a fifth of Christmas spending towards independent firms, potentially generating £4.4bn for the small business economy.
Sonia Pounder, who opened her shop “Attic Bloom” in 2023, expresses uncertainty about the future, particularly after a disappointing October, and recognizes that “flowers are something you need”. The article notes that she is bracing for a challenging period after Christmas and hopes the chancellor will address the issue of high business rates.
The text also briefly mentions Kantoor Rachel Reeves visiting the Corn Exchange and speaking with businesses, aiming to reassure them about government support, including reductions in national insurance for small businesses.
