At last week’s Planning, Protective Services and Licensing (PPSL) Committee meeting, the local authority made a commitment to deliver the 'national initiative with a local focus’.

The scheme, used by a number of local authorities across the UK, provides consumers with a list of approved traders in their area - local businesses that have given their commitment to fair trading.

Buy With Confidence gives people the reassurance that the members have been vetted by the council’s trading standards team, are committed to trading fairly, and deliver a high level of customer service.

Hugh Smith, a painter and decorator from Helensburgh, is the first local trader to join the scheme. He said: “For me one of the main benefits of the scheme is the ability to work with Argyll and Bute Council’s trading standards team, knowing that they can give me advice and support.

“For my customers they will have the comfort of knowing that all my paperwork has been checked by trading standards officers and that I have all the correct insurances and such in place so that people will get what they pay for. It’s an endorsement, a huge big tick that says I’m a fair trader.” For members, the Buy With Confidence initiative provides independent support and advice of trading standards, helps to promote their business, and reduces the threats posed to legitimate businesses by rogue traders.

Alan Morrison, the council’s regulatory services manager, added: “It gives consumers in Argyll and Bute a list of traders that we endorse, that have undergone a number of detailed checks and who are supported by good references.” He added: “People know that by using these businesses they will not be disadvantaged; there are appropriate measures in place to protect them. People should keep a look out for the BWC logo.” In order to become a BWC member, a business must apply or be recommended to join the scheme and must then pass a set of tailored background checks.