Small Business Saturday is bringing its UK-wide roadshow to Scotland next week, kicking off the countdown to Small Business Saturday on 6th December – a celebration of the nation’s favourite small firms.
The month-long ‘Tour’ will shine a light on the real people, passion, and creativity behind the UK’s 5.6 million local small firms, celebrating their critical contribution to the economy, society and communities.
The Small Business Saturday Tour’ will begin in Lossiemouth in the North East of Scotland next Monday, 3 November, and will then go on to spotlight inspiring small businesses in Aberdeenshire, and Edinburgh, before continuing on to Belfast and Preston later in the week.
The roadshow will ultimately travel over 3,000 miles across the UK, visiting over 20 towns and cities including Manchester, Durham, Carlisle, Derby, Grimsby, Wrexham, Hereford, Newport, Plymouth, Salisbury, Cambridge, and London.
Supported by BT, the roadshow will profile a diverse range of small businesses along the way, including stop offs at Moray Driftwood Designs in Lossiemouth, Deeside Stitches in Aberdeenshire, and JustBe Botanicals in Edinburgh, celebrating their local impact.
Fascinating stories of local entrepreneurs at the heart of their communities will be shared across social media, alongside a range of top-tips, behind-the-scenes tours and demonstrations.
Jean Pryde, co-founder of Brilliantly Brave in Moray said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that the Small Business Saturday Tour is kicking off on our doorstep, right here in Moray. It’s a powerful reminder that great ideas and good business don’t just live in cities, rural businesses can have a huge heart and national impact too. At Brilliantly Brave, 100% of our profits fund free mental health support across Scotland, so we see every card as a small act of kindness with a big ripple effect.”
Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign that celebrates small businesses and encourages consumers to support and spend with small firms.
Backed by principal supporter American Express, the campaign has been running for over a decade since 2013. Over this time it has engaged millions of people and seen billions of pounds spent with small businesses across the UK on Small Business Saturday, with an impact that lasts all year round.
Alongside the roadshow, Small Business Saturday is offering small businesses all over Scotland and the wider UK a month of dedicated, free online business support, including webinars on a wide range of small business topics, as well as mentoring from business experts.
“We are excited to be starting this year’s Tour in Scotland and visiting the nation’s favourite businesses in the lead up to Small Business Saturday on 6 December,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday.
“The Tour is a celebration of the phenomenal small businesses across the UK that make up the heart of communities. As we see renewed optimism from small businesses, underlined by the positive growth in the small business population, we want to showcase their inspiring stories and encourage everyone to support the small businesses that make the UK so vibrant.”
A Small Business Happy Hour on Instagram will also take place weekly, featuring giveaways from local businesses across the country.
“Small businesses are vital to the UK economy, and giving entrepreneurs the right support and guidance is crucial to their success,” said Chris Sims, Chief Commercial Officer, UK Business, at BT.
“The Tour provides a valuable opportunity to connect directly with small businesses across the country, offering tailored guidance and practical resources to help them grow and adapt. It’s a powerful initiative that brings businesses together to drive innovation, strengthen local communities, and build a more resilient economy”
The Small Business Saturday Tour team will travel across the UK in branded electric vehicles, reflecting the sustainable practices many small business owners are embracing in the race to net zero.
To follow The Tour’s journey visit @SmallBizSatUK on Instagram. Small businesses can head to the Small Business Saturday website to access free business support and get involved in the campaign – https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/the-tour#VirtualRoadshow
