Small Business Saturday hits the road with nationwide tour

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Small Business Saturday hits the road with nationwide tour

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Small Business Saturday has unveiled plans for its upcoming national roadshow, set to shine a spotlight on small businesses across twenty-one towns and cities throughout the UK.

Starting later this year in Scotland, ‘The Tour’ will embark on a month-long journey, celebrating the nation’s beloved independent businesses and highlighting their vital role in local communities and the broader economy.

With support from BT, the roadshow will visit a diverse range of small businesses, including stops in Dundee, Glasgow, Belfast, Chester, Newcastle, Darlington, Leeds, Lincoln, Nottingham, Northampton, Swansea, Chippenham, Plymouth, Bournemouth, Brighton, St Albans, and London.

As the official countdown to Small Business Saturday begins, ‘The Tour’ will showcase the unique stories, people, and communities that make up the UK's vibrant small business landscape. Planned visits include a wool farm in Kent, glamping in Lincolnshire, whiskey tasting in Scotland, and gourmet marshmallow production in Northern Ireland.

Small Business Saturday is a grassroots campaign that champions small business success and encourages consumers to 'shop local' and support their communities. Scheduled for 7th December this year, the campaign is backed by principal supporter American Express. Over the past decade, Small Business Saturday has engaged millions of people and generated billions of pounds in spending with small businesses across the UK.

In addition to the roadshow, the campaign will offer a month of free online support for small businesses, including daily workshops, mentoring sessions, and insights from industry experts.

"Small Business Saturday has always been about supporting and celebrating the UK’s fantastic entrepreneurs and the amazing contribution they make to local communities all across the UK," said Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday UK. "Small businesses sit at the heart of communities, forming the cornerstone of local economies. This is why we are visiting these communities in person with The Tour. We are really excited about this next phase and the chance to shine an important light on fabulous small businesses all across the UK, bringing to life their brilliant and unique stories and impact."

Travelling over 3,000 miles, ‘The Tour’ will once again 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.

“Given the massive role that small businesses can play in helping to boost the UK economy it’s important that we give Britain’s entrepreneurs all the support they need to succeed,” said Chris Sims, BT’s Managing Director for Small and Medium Enterprise. “The Tour is a brilliant way for small businesses across the country to get tailored support around growing their capability for the future. We are delighted to be supporting this effort once again, through our Skills for Tomorrow offering, which has helped over one million entrepreneurs grow their small businesses with free digital skills training.”