Latest news with #MichelleOvens
North Wales Live
5 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Live
UK roadshow to champion impact of local small businesses
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
Entrepreneur
25-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Small And Mighty: How The UK Is Powering Up Its Microbusinesses
Small Business Britain launches a nationwide initiative to turn the UK's smallest ventures into powerful engines of growth—with live mentorship, expert training, and a bold vision for scale. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. In a post-pandemic world reshaped by economic uncertainty, flexible work, and a new wave of entrepreneurship, microbusinesses have emerged as one of the most dynamic—and overlooked—segments of the economy. Now, Small Business Britain, one of the country's leading enterprise support organisations, is setting out to change that with the launch of Small and Mighty Live, an in-person, high-impact training event designed to unlock the next phase of growth for the UK's smallest businesses. Set to take place at London's Science Museum on October 2, 2025, Small and Mighty Live marks the physical evolution of the acclaimed Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme, which has already supported over 4,000 entrepreneurs since its launch in 2022. From marketing workshops to live strategy panels and one-on-one mentoring, the day-long event will gather hundreds of sole traders and microbusinesses under one roof, giving them unprecedented access to business leaders, industry experts, and actionable tools for scale. "This event isn't just a celebration of opportunity and growth," said Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain. "It's a powerful reminder of the vital role small businesses play in driving innovation, resilience, and boosting the UK economy." Delivered in partnership with Xero UK and ARU Peterborough, the Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme offers a free six-week online curriculum tailored to the nation's 5.2 million microbusinesses. This autumn, the programme returns on September 16, welcoming 500 entrepreneurs for expert-led training, live mentoring, and a structured path to building a 12-month growth strategy. Bethany Morton, founder of jewellery brand Silver & Steel, credits the programme for reigniting her business direction: "I hadn't looked at my business plan since launching. The programme gave me a much-needed refresher on setting goals, using new digital tools, and staying inspired." The live event in October is timed to coincide with the programme's midpoint—transforming its digital format into a vibrant, physical hub for community building and deep learning. Speakers at the event include Mike Soutar, entrepreneur and government adviser, Charelle Griffith, a top marketing mentor, and Professor Tom Williamson of ARU Peterborough. Workshops will tackle everything from SEO and PR to customer experience, alongside a live strategy panel hosted by money expert Emma Maslin, founder of The Money Whisperer. Attendees can expect not only knowledge-sharing, but tailored guidance through one-to-one mentorship, as well as peer networking opportunities with fellow founders facing similar growth challenges. "Microbusinesses are incredibly driven to grow," said Kate Hayward, Managing Director at Xero UK. "But they often struggle to access practical, relevant support. That's exactly what this programme delivers." Small and Mighty Live arrives at a time of growing ambition among the UK's microbusinesses. According to new research by Small Business Britain and Xero, over 60% of small business owners plan to grow their businesses by at least 50% in the next five years—a clear signal of intent that's now being matched with institutional support. By blending expert insight, community connection, and real-world tools, the programme doesn't just provide a platform for growth—it's quietly reshaping the UK's economic narrative, putting microbusinesses at the heart of the recovery and beyond. In a world increasingly defined by agility, resilience, and local impact, small may very well be the future of mighty. Applications for the next Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme are now open. To learn more or register for Small and Mighty Live, visit
North Wales Live
25-07-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Small businesses embracing AI tools for growth
Small businesses are racing to embrace AI tools, with almost two thirds (62%) now using the game-changing technology as the demand for AI skills training grows. Research from BT and Small Business Britain – which recently launched a popular new 'AI for Small Business' training programme – found most are utilising the technology in marketing (47%), operations (17%), and customer service (8%). Driving the eagerness to adopt and integrate AI is the feeling many business owners are being held back by a lack of knowledge and skills, with 51% saying they need hands-on support to implement AI effectively. Five hundred small businesses across the UK recently took part in Small Business Britain and BT's free AI programme to bridge this critical skills gap. Through expert-led webinars entrepreneurs were helped to unlock the AI opportunity, with a special follow-on course focused on AI Tools. 'Small businesses want to be at the forefront of AI innovation, and so many already use it, but they need the right tailored support to make the most of its potential,' said Michelle Ovens CBE, founder of Small Business Britain. 'Together with BT Group, we are proud to have delivered the AI Tools programme, which has given entrepreneurs practical advice for their journeys with AI, helping them to integrate it into their operations for even more efficiency and growth.' A growing range of AI tools - across text generation, image creation and automation - are available that can help small businesses across day-to-day operations and broader strategic goals. The course highlighted how with no previous technical skills, small firms can build simple AI tools tailored to their needs which can boost efficiency and take the pressure off by planning and executing tasks such as writing content and analysing data, communication and more. Chris Sims, Chief Commercial Officer, UK Business, at BT said: 'This programme, delivered with Small Business Britain, shows that AI is no longer just the priority of big companies. It highlights the eagerness of small businesses to harness AI's power to work faster and smarter, giving them valuable time to focus on innovation, customer relationships and growth.' Jamie Bykov-Brett, AI expert and co-founder of the Executive AI Institute, who hosted a session as part of the AI Tools course, said: 'The most important thing about the AI revolution is that it should help those who are furthest from opportunity. I enjoy running workshops for Small Business Britain because it's my way of making sure people from all backgrounds see AI as something they can access and benefit from.'
Business News Wales
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Business Owner Attends Chancellor's Small Businesses Celebration
A Swansea businesswoman has attended a special reception hosted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to recognise the contribution of small businesses to the economy, society and communities. Tyra Oseng-Rees, founder and director of Oseng-Rees Reflection Ltd, attended the event which brought together winners and finalists of The Small Awards. This annual awards showcase is organised by Small Business Britain and celebrates the UK's 'smallest and greatest' businesses. The event featured more than 40 small businesses, from micro-businesses and family businesses, to start-ups and high street heroes. Tyra was a finalist in the Small Awards' Net Hero category for best sustainability-focused business, which recognises a small business with an exceptional commitment to environmental sustainability. As a Net Hero finalist, Oseng-Rees Reflection Ltd was shortlisted for its pioneering work in sustainability and circular design. The company transforms demolition materials into low-carbon, high-impact installations. Their award-winning cladding of the Grade II listed Buttermarket in Cornwall, featuring 800 recycled glass tiles, won the 2025 Surface Design Award for Exterior Surface of the Year. The company's work was also recently featured in Business News Wales, highlighting how glass from the former Newport Centre was repurposed into a new architectural installation. Tyra said: 'Getting invited to Downing Street was a real surprise, and a boost. As someone running a small business built on sustainability and creative thinking, it meant a lot to be in the room where big decisions happen. It showed me that voices like mine, focused on doing things differently and better for the planet, are starting to be noticed. I believe real change starts when we show up with honesty, ideas, and the guts to do things differently.' Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain, said: 'Small businesses are the heart and soul of their communities and contribute massively to the UK economy,' 'It is fantastic to see the stellar achievements of Tyra recognised by the Chancellor and the Treasury in this way, at such a special event. It is so important that the whole nation gets behind small businesses and give them all the support they need.'
North Wales Live
27-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Best of British business owners urged to put themselves forward
Impressive UK small business owners are being urged to put themselves forward for a nationwide search to find the country's 100 most inspirational small businesses. Organisers behind the UK's Small Business Saturday campaign are calling on amazing entrepreneurs across the country to apply to be featured on this year's SmallBiz100 line-up, which highlights Britain's most vibrant and inspiring small businesses as part of the official countdown to the campaign on 6 December. Small Business Saturday is the UK's most successful small business campaign, which takes place each year on the first weekend in December, celebrating small businesses and encouraging consumers to shop small and support businesses in their communities. 'Small businesses are the heart and soul of our local communities and deserve much greater recognition, especially after all the resilience they've shown in the face of recent challenges,' said Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday UK. 'So if you are a local business owner doing great things please step forward and tell us your story! Or if you know an amazing small business making a difference in your community, please encourage them to apply.' Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign that was originally founded by American Express in the U.S. in 2010, and the brand remains the principal supporter of Small Business Saturday in the UK. This year, new joint American Express and Small Business Saturday UK research has shown that 68% of UK SMEs feel their business is resilient, with almost three quarters targeting growth this year, highlighting a real opportunity to support small businesses' optimism and upbeat outlook. Since the Small Business Saturday campaign started in the UK in 2013, over 1000 small businesses have been featured in the campaign's SmallBiz100, with firms from virtually all areas of the country and sectors represented. Last year businesses featured on the SmallBiz100 included a London-based yoga studio, a spice kit business from Essex, as well as a financial education consultancy from Scotland. For example, Angela Bush, co-founder of House of Amitié, a marbling and homewares business, said: 'Being chosen as one of the SmallBiz100 in 2024 provided us with a huge boost—both in confidence and financially. My co-founder Jemma and I would really recommend applying to be one of the SmallBiz100 this year, as you never know where it might lead you.' On Small Business Saturday customers across the UK go out and support all types of small businesses, from independent shops and restaurants to small service businesses. Entrepreneurs can get involved in the day by posting on social channels, offering promotions, and even collaborating with other small businesses for events. Small Business Saturday attracts huge attention on the day itself, but has an impact that lasts all year round. Last year, the campaign saw extensive media coverage, as well as public support from the Prime Minister, leader of the opposition, the Mayor of London, and over 90% of the nation's local councils. Dan Edelman, General Manager, UK Merchant Services at American Express, said: 'Up and down the UK, small businesses bring so much to local communities, delighting their customers every day. That's why we continue to champion them through our ongoing support of Small Business Saturday, and by encouraging our Cardmembers to shop small all year round.'
