Latest news with #MikeSoutar
North Wales Live
24-07-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Small Business Britain launches live event to boost microbusinesses
In a major new move to support the UK's smallest businesses to scale, Small Business Britain is launching an intensive, all-day small business training event this autumn, as part of the return of its popular Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme. 'Small and Mighty Live' will offer a day of expert workshops, keynote talks and panel discussions with business leaders and entrepreneurs, alongside live mentoring, and networking for hundreds of microbusinesses and sole traders from across the country. Taking place on 2 October 2025 at the Science Museum in London, it is timed to coincide with the midpoint of this autumn's Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme and bring this online event to life in an in-person format. The Small and Mighty Enterprise programme is a free six-week course to supercharge small businesses, delivered in partnership with global small business platform Xero and university business academics at ARU Peterborough. It aims to equip the nation's 5.2 million microbusinesses and sole traders with the tools and knowledge to take their first steps towards growth. The event marks a major milestone in the growth of the scaling programme, which has supported over 4,000 small businesses to scale since it launched in 2022. Small and Mighty Live will bring together hundreds of entrepreneurs and business experts for a high-impact day of learning, connection, and community. Speakers include entrepreneur Mike Soutar, known for his work as an interviewer on The Apprentice and now as an adviser to the UK Government's Board of Trade, a senior speaker from Xero UK, and Professor Tom Williamson of ARU Peterborough. Sessions will cover marketing, customer experience, SEO and PR, and the event will also feature a live strategy panel hosted by money mentor and Founder of The Money Whisperer, Emma Maslin, alongside a line-up of inspiring entrepreneurs, as well as one-to-one mentoring and networking opportunities. This event reflects the increasing ambition of the UK's microbusinesses. Research from Small Business Britain and Xero shows that over 60% of microbusinesses plan to grow by half (50%) or more in the next five years. 'Small and Mighty Live will be a huge moment for the small business community,' said Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain. 'We've seen firsthand the incredible impact the online Small and Mighty Enterprise programme has had, empowering thousands of microbusinesses to unlock their potential and take the first steps towards growth. We are excited to bring this to life through Small and Mighty Live, which will create a unique opportunity to deepen connections, spark fresh ideas, and fuel even greater ambition. This event isn't just a celebration of opportunity and growth, it's a powerful reminder of the vital role small businesses play in driving innovation, resilience, and boosting the UK economy.' Alongside the launch of Small and Mighty Live, applications are now open for the next cohort of the Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme, which will return on 16 September, offering 500 entrepreneurs flexible, expert-led learning, mentoring, and a step-by-step path to building a 12-month growth plan. 'The Small and Mighty Programme was incredibly useful for refocusing my business strategy. I hadn't looked at my business plan since launching, and this gave me a much-needed refresher on setting goals and using tools for growth. It left me feeling motivated, inspired, and up to speed with the latest digital trends,' said Bethany Morton, Director of Silver & Steel Participants will benefit from live weekly training sessions, on-demand resources, one-to-one and group mentoring, and inclusion in a supportive national peer network. 'Microbusinesses are incredibly driven to grow, but they often struggle to access the tailored, practical support that truly fits their needs,' said Kate Hayward, Managing Director at Xero UK. 'The Small and Mighty Programme, and now Small and Mighty Live, directly address this gap with hands-on guidance that helps businesses take tangible steps forward. These initiatives give entrepreneurs the clarity, confidence, and tools to grow. We're proud to stand behind this vital work and continue our support for the UK's small business community.' Professor Tom Williamson, Assistant Principal of ARU Peterborough, added: 'Our collaboration with Small Business Britain on the Small and Mighty Programme reflects our shared commitment to supporting grassroots entrepreneurship across the UK. By combining academic insight with practical learning, we're equipping microbusinesses with the strategic thinking and confidence they need to thrive. Small and Mighty Live is a powerful extension of this approach, bringing learning to life, deepening engagement, and helping entrepreneurs build meaningful futures.'
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Apprentice star who grills candidates for Alan Sugar is 'shamed' after falling for iTunes gift card scam
A successful businessman and star of The Apprentice has admitted falling victim to an iTunes gift card con. Publishing guru Mike Soutar, who grills candidates on the BBC series for Lord Alan Sugar, has told of his 'shame' after succumbing to an elaborate online fraud. The entrepreneur, 58, was tricked into paying £150 for Apple iTunes vouchers, he has revealed. He had received an email that he thought came from Scottish businessman Tim Allan, whom he sits alongside on the board of the V&A Museum in Dundee. It asked him to buy £450 worth of vouchers for members of staff at the museum to recognise their recent hard work in preparing a new exhibition. Mr Soutar, who said he was pushed for time, immediately bought vouchers to the value of £150 - but his credit card blocked his attempt to purchase more. He then realised the email address the message had been sent from was different from Mr Allan's. And when he called his colleague, who is chairman of the V&A Dundee, he realised he had been scammed. Mr Soutar has now spoken out about falling prey, writing on LinkedIn: 'When Tim Allan CBE asks you to take on an assignment you snap to it. 'So when he emails a request for me to take on a "special assignment" early on Saturday morning, I am intrigued. '"Can you buy some vouchers for some of the members of the team to recognise their hard work over and above the call of duty?" 'This is typical Tim. Brilliant at knowing the right time to make a personal gesture. And he's right - the team have been working overtime to put on an epic new Garden Design exhibition. 'We exchange emails. Tim says he knows he can trust me to keep it all confidential. And then: "Can you get the vouchers in the next 20-30 minutes?" 'Erm, OK, I reply, but it'll have to be online. "That's fine," he says, "Just get iTune gift cards, do £450-worth, send me the PINs and keep the cards in an envelope for me.' 'He sounds a bit stressed and impatient so I try to call him. I get no answer but, pressed for time myself, I buy £150 of vouchers. 'My credit card flags the second transaction and blocks it. I curse the overcautious fraud filter, and I tap on Tim's name at the top of the email address. He has been interviewing candidates on The Apprentice on each series since 2011 'It is not his email address. I message him. He phones me back. "What's all this about vouchers?" I've been scammed.' Mr Soutar ultimately got his money back but has gone public with the details, saying he wanted to warn others that anyone can fall victim to fraud. He added: 'The part that stings is the sense of shame. The stomach-punch to your self-worth. The voice in your head saying, "You absolute mug, Mike. How did you fall for it?" 'The irony is not lost on me. I'm the man who catches unwitting candidates out on The Apprentice! 'But scams don't prey on stupidity. They prey on timing. On stress. On distraction. They exploit trust. That's why so many victims don't talk about it. 'Because it feels personal. It shakes something deeper than your bank balance. 'So here I am, not staying silent. Fraud can happen to anyone. Even me. Even you.' Dundee-born Mr Soutar has had various senior executive roles in the publishing industry and was recently appointed to the UK Government's Board of Trade to champion the best of British business to the rest of the world. He is seen alongside singer Sam Ruder as part of an SXSW London 2025 panel on Tuesday His previous jobs have included being editor of Smash Hits magazine aged 23, managing director of radio station Kiss FM and co-founder and chairman of publishing firm Shortlist Media. He has been one of Lord Sugar's on-screen interviewers of the final candidates on every series of the Apprentice since 2011, subjecting them to tough questioning. Figures released earlier this week revealed Scottish victims have lost more than £860,000 to cyber criminals in the last year. In what is dubbed a "scamdemic" by charity Advice Direct Scotland, the number of such crimes rose from 94 in 2021-22 to 1,119 in 2024-25 - up 1,090 per cent.
The Independent
13-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Apprentice star and BT boss join Board of Trade
Apprentice star Mike Soutar and BT boss Allison Kirkby have been appointed as experts on the Board of Trade as the Government seeks to boost exports. They are among 10 chief executives and business leaders picked to act as advocates and ambassadors for their sectors and support growth, with a focus on the country's 5.5 million small and medium-sized businesses. Michelle Ovens, who set up trade group Small Business Britain, and Ella's Kitchen founder Paul Lindley will also join the team. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the new board would not be a 'chin-stroking talking shop'. 'The new Board of Trade will be another tool in our arsenal to get more businesses trading around the world and taking advantage of our fantastic free trade agreements,' he said. 'This won't be a chin-stroking talking shop, because I'll be urging them to boost exports and get more SMEs trading across all their sectors. 'Because we know that when more small firms export, it leads to more jobs and higher wages and grows the economy.' The Department for Business and Trade is also launching a call for evidence to gather information on financing for small firms and potential private sector measures to boost their funding. Small Business Minister Gareth Thomas said: 'For small businesses, getting off the ground is one of the hardest parts of scaling up, and central to that is the ability to access finance. 'That's why this Call for Evidence will be important to allow us to see what more needs to be done to support SMEs so they can go for growth.' Shadow business and trade secretary Andrew Griffith said: 'It has taken the Government more than eight months to even appoint the Board of Trade, let alone hold a single meeting.' The Tory MP also said Labour had 'trashed the economy', and were 'ramming through an extreme trade union charter'. – The new board advisers are:
