Hundreds of UK microbusiness owners gathered in London for the first ever ‘Small and Mighty Live’, an immersive training, mentoring and networking event hosted by Small Business Britain and Xero, as an extension of their popular joint scaling programme.

Currently running its autumn series, the free, six-week Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme has supported more than 4,000 micro businesses to scale, with mentoring and expert-led training in partnership with business academics at ARU Peterborough.

The packed-out event – held at London’s Science Museum – featured an array of business experts and high-profile speakers, including Michelle Ovens CBE, CEO and Founder of Small Business Britain and entrepreneur and Apprentice star Mike Soutar - both advisers to the UK Government’s Board of Trade.

Growth topics such as marketing, customer experience, SEO and PR were placed centre stage, alongside a live strategy panel hosted by ‘The Money Whisperer mentor Emma Maslin.

Attendees also benefited from one-to-one mentoring sessions and peer-to-peer networking.

“We’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact of the online Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme, and it was truly inspiring to bring that energy to life in-person with Small and Mighty Live,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, CEO and Founder of Small Business Britain.

“The connections, insights and ideas shared today will ripple far beyond this event, helping microbusinesses to grow, innovate, and play their vital role in boosting the UK economy.”

Denise de Gromoboy, founder of Denalis Jewellery and a panelist at Small and Mighty Live, praised both the impact of the live event and the wider Small and Mighty Enterprise programme.

“A programme like Small and Mighty is vital, and to experience it live has been incredible. Every single speaker was so inspirational, much of it really resonated, but I also learned a lot. The chance to get answers to so many questions, combined with the amazing networking opportunities, made the day a worthwhile experience.”

Jeevan Punj, founder of Elite Hampers, and a panelist said: "Small and Mighty Live was such a fun and inspiring day. I met so many amazing people and had some great conversations. As a small business owner it can feel lonely at times, but being part of a community like this showed me that, while we're all different, we share the same challenges and ambitions. I made valuable connections, took away new ideas, and even started improving my own business strategy."

Earlier research from Small Business Britain and Xero has highlighted the strong growth appetite among the UK’s smallest firms, with over 60% of microbusinesses planning to expand by 50% or more in the next five years.

“Microbusinesses are incredibly ambitious, but too often lack the support tailored to their needs. The Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme, and now Small and Mighty Live, are changing that, providing hands-on, practical guidance that gives entrepreneurs the clarity and confidence to grow,” said Kate Hayward, Managing Director at Xero UK.