Save Our Independents
Independents hold our communities together. They give us connection, identity, and belonging. But rising costs, unfair taxes and a broken system are shutting them down faster than ever before. If we don’t act now, the places that make Britain, Britain will disappear.
Small, locally owned businesses across the UK are facing the biggest crisis in a generation.
Unfair VAT. Outdated business rates. Soaring costs. Corporate dominance. Many independents are carrying impossible burdens — and thousands are closing every year. Every closure means more than a lost business. It means fewer places to meet, talk, laugh, celebrate and feel part of something real. It means communities hollowed out. High streets becoming identical. It means the end of a culture built on real people, not faceless corporations. If we fail to act, Britain will lose the very places that give it character, diversity and soul.
We must protect our independents so they can protect our communities.
Save Our Independents
How Do I Get Involved?
Whether you're an independent business or someone who simply believes in local — you can help make this louder. Sign the petition, buy a git card or get your Independent on the map. Every action helps the local fight grow.
Sign the petition
Tell the Government: Independents Matter. Add your name to demand lower VAT, fair business rates, and a future where Independent businesses thrive — not just survive.
Buy the Gift Card
Share a gift card that lets people discover new cafés, shops and pubs – and sends their spend straight into independent businesses.
Get Certified as an Independent
Are you a genuine independent business? Get invited and add your place to the new map.
A New Way to Xplore the World
We're building an alternative map — a map built for you, Independents and the communities we call home.
This isn't nostalgia.
It’s the future.
Where you choose to spend your time and money shapes the world we live in.
Download xploreDownload Xplore app
FAQ
Why is Xplore involved in a local protection campaign?
Because local businesses are the foundation of real community life. They give towns character, create local jobs, and keep money circulating where it matters most. Yet, they're being squeezed out by corporate systems designed for profit extraction, not social good.
Do Different is Xplore's way of helping level the playing field - by giving independent businesses the tools and visibility they deserve, and by inspiring people to spend where it strengthens community, not just convenience.
Why are corporations so bad?
Not all corporations are inherently bad. But when profit becomes the only purpose, something vital gets lost — fairness, accountability, and a sense of shared responsibility. Global corporations often take far more out of economies than they ever put back: money leaves towns instead of circulating within them, decision-making becomes remote, and culture becomes standardised. It's not about hating corporations; it's about recognising the cost of letting them dominate every space of our lives.
Don't we need corporations?
In many ways, yes. Corporations can drive innovation, scale, and efficiency. But we've allowed them to expand into places they were never meant to - our food systems, our streets, even our sense of belonging. What we need is balance. Local and independent businesses shouldn't have to fight uphill just to exist. A healthy economy is one where corporations and communities coexist — not one where local life gets priced out of its own story.
Don't corporations employ a significant number of people?
They do — but so do small and medium-sized businesses, which actually employ the majority of people in the UK. The difference lies in where the value ends up. When you buy from an independent business, your money supports livelihoods in your community — not distant shareholders. Local ownership means local impact. This isn't about rejecting jobs from large companies; it's about ensuring local jobs and businesses survive alongside them.
What's the alternative to corporations?
The alternative isn't anti-corporate — it's pro-community. It's an economy built on many hands, not just a few. Local cooperatives, independents, social enterprises, and community-owned spaces all prove that profit and purpose can coexist. The future isn't about eliminating corporations — it's about building systems where local ownership and accountability come first.
What can I do to join the movement?
Start small. Spend where it matters. Talk about why you do. Share your favourite independent places using #XploreLocal, and encourage others to do the same. If you're a business, get certified and join the Xplore map. If you're an individual, Download the social kit and help grow the movement. Every choice you make is a vote for the kind of world you want to live in.
