Small business owners across the country are being encouraged to sign up for the programme that kicks off for a month in November and offers free virtual webinars and one-to-one mentoring.

The activity is a core part of the campaign’s nationwide roadshow, ‘The Tour’, which is supported by BT, and forms part of the official countdown to Small Business Saturday UK on the 7th December 2024.

Small business owners from anywhere in the country can sign up for free one-to-one online coaching sessions with experienced business mentors, as well as webinars by leading experts. These will focus on a range of small business topics including:

• Confidence and mindset hacks
• Strategies for balancing business success and self-care 
• How to nail Instagram and Facebook ads
• Creating impactful content with limited resources

To make these sessions even more fun and motivating for small business owners, those attending at least ten workshops will be rewarded with a Christmas gift, a vegan, zero-waste skincare gift box by Wales-based Battle Green.

From 4th November 2024 ‘The Tour’ will also be travelling to over 20 locations across the country to profile all different types of small businesses from every corner of the UK, and tell their stories. There will also be a weekly Small Business Happy Hour, with giveaways from local businesses.

“The Small Business Saturday campaign is all about supporting the nation’s fabulous small businesses,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday UK.

“The support we offer to small businesses during The Tour through insight and mentorship can be a game-changer in helping entrepreneurs to take their business to the next level after a particularly challenging few years. I encourage small business owners to get involved.”

Travelling over 3,000 miles The Tour will make use of electric vehicles to reduce emissions and reflect the sustainable switches many small business owners are making, as part of their vital role in the race to net zero.

“For small businesses to realise their true potential and provide a significant boost to the UK’s economy, it’s vital they develop their skills and technology to increase productivity and growth,” said Chris Sims, BT’s Managing Director for Small and Medium Enterprise.

“The Tour is a fantastic way for small businesses to get tailored insights, support, and advice around ways they can futureproof their business and ensure growth. We are excited to once again be supporting this effort through our Skills for Tomorrow programme, which has helped over one million entrepreneurs grow their small business.”

A grassroots, non-commercial campaign, Small Business Saturday celebrates small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and to support businesses in their communities.

Running for over a decade, the campaign is backed by principal supporter American Express and has engaged millions of people and seen billions of pounds spent with small businesses across the UK on Small Business Saturday.

To book onto Small Business Saturday’s webinars, small businesses should visit the Small Business Saturday website.

Mentoring slots can be booked via the My Small Business section of the Small Business Saturday website, where small firms can log in or create a profile, and click on ‘The Tour 2024’ tab.