Preparations for this year’s Small Business Saturday are well underway as the campaign began its 2023 national roadshow in Inverness last week.
Highlighting the vital contribution small businesses make to the UK’s economy, the five-week Tour – supported by BT Skills for Tomorrow – will visit 23 different destinations before finishing in London before the campaign’s main event on Saturday 2 December.
Retailers based in any of The Tour’s destinations can request an in-person visit from the roadshow team here. Businesses based elsewhere can alternatively sign up for a virtual interview spot (E: thetour@smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com).
Online workshops and webinars covering a range of business topics are also being offered each day, as well as free one-to-one mentoring and opportunities for entrepreneurs to tell their stories, and network on Small Business Saturday’s social media channels. A Small Business Happy Hour on Instagram will also take place every week, with giveaways from local businesses all over the country.
Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK, says: “We’re thrilled to visit small businesses all across the UK on this year’s Tour as we count down to Small Business Saturday.
“With the campaign this year, we want to shine a light on the nation’s fantastic small firms and instil a real sense of optimism for next year, especially at a time when many entrepreneurs are struggling with some persistent economic challenges. I encourage everyone to support their favourite small businesses, in person and online, during the campaign and all year round.”
Chris Sims, BT’s managing director for small and medium business, adds: “Small Business Saturday is a fantastic initiative that empowers entrepreneurs to tackle the biggest challenges they are facing today. This year small businesses can access specialist mentoring and support, giving them tailored guidance on issues ranging from effective marketing to cyber security.
“As The Tour enters its second decade, we are proud to be partnering with Small Business Saturday on this initiative again through our Skills for Tomorrow program, which has helped over one million entrepreneurs grow their small businesses with free digital skills training.”
Upcoming Tour destinations
