‘If my business fails — so do I,’ says butcher

Zac Perry (31), from Goldthorpe, is the battle-hardened owner of Yorkshire Family Butchers in Mexborough and offered the simple warning that people needed to “use or lose” their local traders.

Mr Perry said that running a business over the past three years had been one of his “toughest challenges” — battling on against a backdrop of Covid-19, supply issues caused by the Russian-Ukrainian war and price increases on everyday living — but he was determined to carry on.

“Any business is a reflection of its owner and an extension of them,” he said.

“People very rarely understand the damaging effect being a business owner can have on you — the sleepless nights, the battles with mental health and the long hours involved.

“It consumes your life working 80 hours a week because I have everything tied up in my business.

“It takes away time I should spend with my children and family.

“If it fails, then so do I.”

Mr Perry said the future was “very uncertain” with the rise in energy bills and inflation.

He explained: “Thankfully, we are on a fixed term energy rate so we will not be as badly affected as some.

“But that will only last until March next year and we dread to think what it will be like then, with such abysmal energy increases hitting so many businesses in one go.

“The future is very uncertain but I know I’m a fighter and I will never give up — it’s part of who I am.”

Mr Perry placed the blame on successive Conservative governments for “lacking help for small business owners”.

He said: “The way they have handled the economy over the years is shambolic.

“They do not care about small business owners like me and are more concerned about maintaining friends in high places and giving their rich friends tax cuts.

“There needs to be increased public spending to help struggling businesses survive and encourage people to go out and spend their money.

“Any profit I make goes straight to my daughter, who can fulfil her hobbies and be a kid.

“But it is becoming harder and harder for everyday people to make a living and see their children.

“That’s why I strongly urge people to shop local rather than paying for a big company CEO’s bonus.”

Mr Perry said he always had one person especially in mind when seeking success, adding: “I sadly lost my mum eight years ago which is possibly the hardest thing I ever went through.

“She was everything to me and I do everything in her memory because she was the best.

“I try to make her proud on a daily basis.”