Small Business Saturday’s nationwide roadshow will return this autumn, touring 23 towns and cities across the UK to celebrate the impact of local entrepreneurs and encourage communities to support small firms.
Launching in Scotland in early November, the roadshow — known as The Tour — will kick off in Lossiemouth, Aberdeenshire and Edinburgh, before travelling across the UK. Stops include Belfast, Manchester, Durham, Preston, Carlisle, Derby, Grimsby, Wrexham, Hereford, Newport, Plymouth, Salisbury, Cambridge and London.
Backed by BT, the initiative will spotlight local firms from bakers and chocolatiers to cycling adventure companies and shoe repair businesses, recognising their contribution to local economies, job creation and communities.
Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK, said: “Small Business Saturday is all about championing the incredible entrepreneurs who bring passion, innovation, and heart to communities across the UK. The Tour gives us the opportunity to hit the road and engage directly with the nation’s favourite small businesses, celebrating their unique stories and the essential role they play in strengthening local economies.”
The campaign, now in its 13th year, is a grassroots, non-commercial initiative encouraging shoppers to ‘shop local’. Last year, it generated billions of pounds in spending and engaged millions of consumers nationwide. This year’s Small Business Saturday takes place on 6 December and is supported by American Express.
Coinciding with the roadshow, the campaign will also deliver a month of free online support for entrepreneurs, including daily workshops, mentoring and events featuring industry experts and small business leaders.
In line with its commitment to sustainability, The Tour will once again use electric vehicles to cover its 3,000-mile route, showcasing the greener choices many small firms are making on the road to net zero.
Chris Sims, chief commercial officer for UK Business at BT, said: “Small businesses are vital to the UK economy, and providing entrepreneurs with the right support is crucial to their success. The Tour offers a great platform to engage with small businesses across the country, delivering tailored advice and resources to help them grow and adapt.”
With retailers, service providers and start-ups all facing continued economic pressure, organisers say the roadshow is more important than ever in showing how small businesses remain the backbone of Britain’s economy.