
UK roadshow to champion impact of local small businesses
Launching this autumn in Scotland - with stops in Lossiemouth, Aberdeenshire, and Edinburgh - 'The Tour' will spotlight some of the UK's most inspiring local businesses. Backed by BT it aims to recognise the vital role of small businesses in boosting local economies, creating jobs, and supporting communities. The nationwide journey will then continue across the rest of the UK throughout November, visiting towns and cities including Belfast, Manchester, Durham, Preston, Carlisle, Derby, Grimsby, Wrexham, Hereford, Newport, Plymouth, Salisbury, Cambridge, and London.
In the lead-up to Small Business Saturday, 'The Tour' will shine a light on business owners, their stories, and the incredible local communities at the heart of the UK's 5.45 million small businesses, celebrating their critical contribution to the economy. Planned stops include visiting a range of small businesses, from a cycling adventure firm in Scotland and luxury handmade chocolatier in the North of England, to bakeries in Wales, and a shoe repair business in the South.
"Being part of the Small Business Saturday Tour 2024 was such a fabulous experience! We loved welcoming the team, giving our brand more exposure and meeting so many other inspiring small businesses along the way," said Carol Jackson, Owner of ELJ Drinks Ltd. "The Tour is a fabulous celebration of entrepreneurial spirit, culminating in Small Business Saturday and we can't wait to be part of the magic again in 2025! If the tour is heading your way, don't miss it. Get involved, show up, and soak up the support, energy and wider community. You'll love it!"
Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign that celebrates small business success and encourages consumers to 'shop local' and support businesses in their communities. Taking place this year on 6 December, Small Business Saturday is backed by its principal supporter American Express. Now in its thirteenth year, Small Business Saturday has engaged millions of shoppers and helped generate billions of pounds in spending at small businesses across the UK.
Coinciding with the roadshow, the campaign will also feature a full month of free online support for small businesses all over the UK. This includes daily workshops, mentoring sessions, and insight events featuring small business owners and industry experts.
"Small Business Saturday is all about championing the incredible entrepreneurs who bring passion, innovation, and heart to communities across the UK," said Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday 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. We're excited to begin this next chapter and highlight the creativity and resilience that make small businesses the foundation of our communities."
With the roadshow expected to cover around 3,000 miles, 'The Tour' will continue to use electric vehicles to reduce emissions and showcase the sustainable choices many small business owners are making on the journey toward net zero.
'Small businesses are vital to the UK economy, and providing entrepreneurs with the right support is crucial to their success,' said Chris Sims, Chief Commercial Officer, UK Business, at BT. "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. This is an important initiative that allows businesses to connect for good, strengthening local communities and fostering innovation and resilience across the economy.'
Tour Dates
The Small Business Saturday tour will visit the following UK locations:
Monday 3rd November - Lossiemouth
Tuesday 4th November - Aberdeenshire
Wednesday 5th November - Edinburgh
Thursday 6th November - Belfast
Friday 7th November - Preston
Monday 10th November - Carlisle
Tuesday 11th November - Durham
Wednesday 12th November - Manchester
Thursday 13th November - Grimsby
Friday 14th November - Derby
Monday 17th November - Wrexham
Tuesday 18th November - Hereford
Wednesday 19th November - Newport
Thursday 20th November - Crediton
Friday 21st November - Plymouth
Monday 24th November - Salisbury
Tuesday 25th November - Brighton
Wednesday 26th November - Maidstone
Thursday 27th November - Leighton Buzzard
Friday 28th November - Cambridge
Monday 1st December - London
Tuesday 2nd December - London
Wednesday 3rd December - London
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Small Business Saturday's month-long UK roadshow is set to return as it announces plans to visit over 20 towns and cities across the country to celebrate the nation's vibrant small business community. Launching this autumn in Scotland - with stops in Lossiemouth, Aberdeenshire, and Edinburgh - 'The Tour' will spotlight some of the UK's most inspiring local businesses. Backed by BT it aims to recognise the vital role of small businesses in boosting local economies, creating jobs, and supporting communities. The nationwide journey will then continue across the rest of the UK throughout November, visiting towns and cities including Belfast, Manchester, Durham, Preston, Carlisle, Derby, Grimsby, Wrexham, Hereford, Newport, Plymouth, Salisbury, Cambridge, and London. In the lead-up to Small Business Saturday, 'The Tour' will shine a light on business owners, their stories, and the incredible local communities at the heart of the UK's 5.45 million small businesses, celebrating their critical contribution to the economy. Planned stops include visiting a range of small businesses, from a cycling adventure firm in Scotland and luxury handmade chocolatier in the North of England, to bakeries in Wales, and a shoe repair business in the South. "Being part of the Small Business Saturday Tour 2024 was such a fabulous experience! We loved welcoming the team, giving our brand more exposure and meeting so many other inspiring small businesses along the way," said Carol Jackson, Owner of ELJ Drinks Ltd. "The Tour is a fabulous celebration of entrepreneurial spirit, culminating in Small Business Saturday and we can't wait to be part of the magic again in 2025! If the tour is heading your way, don't miss it. Get involved, show up, and soak up the support, energy and wider community. You'll love it!" Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign that celebrates small business success and encourages consumers to 'shop local' and support businesses in their communities. Taking place this year on 6 December, Small Business Saturday is backed by its principal supporter American Express. Now in its thirteenth year, Small Business Saturday has engaged millions of shoppers and helped generate billions of pounds in spending at small businesses across the UK. Coinciding with the roadshow, the campaign will also feature a full month of free online support for small businesses all over the UK. This includes daily workshops, mentoring sessions, and insight events featuring small business owners and industry experts. "Small Business Saturday is all about championing the incredible entrepreneurs who bring passion, innovation, and heart to communities across the UK," said Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday 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. We're excited to begin this next chapter and highlight the creativity and resilience that make small businesses the foundation of our communities." With the roadshow expected to cover around 3,000 miles, 'The Tour' will continue to use electric vehicles to reduce emissions and showcase the sustainable choices many small business owners are making on the journey toward net zero. 'Small businesses are vital to the UK economy, and providing entrepreneurs with the right support is crucial to their success,' said Chris Sims, Chief Commercial Officer, UK Business, at BT. "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. This is an important initiative that allows businesses to connect for good, strengthening local communities and fostering innovation and resilience across the economy.' Tour Dates The Small Business Saturday tour will visit the following UK locations: Monday 3rd November - Lossiemouth Tuesday 4th November - Aberdeenshire Wednesday 5th November - Edinburgh Thursday 6th November - Belfast Friday 7th November - Preston Monday 10th November - Carlisle Tuesday 11th November - Durham Wednesday 12th November - Manchester Thursday 13th November - Grimsby Friday 14th November - Derby Monday 17th November - Wrexham Tuesday 18th November - Hereford Wednesday 19th November - Newport Thursday 20th November - Crediton Friday 21st November - Plymouth Monday 24th November - Salisbury Tuesday 25th November - Brighton Wednesday 26th November - Maidstone Thursday 27th November - Leighton Buzzard Friday 28th November - Cambridge Monday 1st December - London Tuesday 2nd December - London Wednesday 3rd December - London