“Autumn Roadshow: Celebrating Small Business Saturday Across 23 UK Towns and Cities”

Small Business Saturday’s national tour will return this fall, visiting 23 towns and cities throughout the UK to honor the influence of local entrepreneurs and motivate communities to back small enterprises.

Commencing in Scotland in early November, the tour — referred to as The Tour — will begin in Lossiemouth, Aberdeenshire, and Edinburgh, before journeying across the UK. Destination stops encompass Belfast, Manchester, Durham, Preston, Carlisle, Derby, Grimsby, Wrexham, Hereford, Newport, Plymouth, Salisbury, Cambridge, and London.

Supported by BT, the initiative will highlight local businesses, from bakers and chocolatiers to cycling adventure firms and shoe repair shops, acknowledging their role in local economies, job growth, and community development.

Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK, stated: “Small Business Saturday is centered around advocating for the remarkable entrepreneurs who infuse enthusiasm, creativity, and compassion into communities throughout the UK. The Tour provides us with the chance to travel and connect directly with the nation’s beloved small businesses, celebrating their distinct narratives and the vital part they play in bolstering local economies.”

The campaign, currently in its 13th year, is a grassroots, non-profit initiative promoting consumers to ‘shop local’. Last year, it resulted in billions of pounds in spending and involved millions of shoppers nationwide. This year’s Small Business Saturday is scheduled for 6 December and enjoys the support of American Express.

Alongside the roadshow, the campaign will also offer a month of free online assistance for entrepreneurs, featuring daily workshops, mentoring, and events with industry authorities and small business leaders.

In accordance with its dedication to sustainability, The Tour will once again utilize electric vehicles to navigate its 3,000-mile route, demonstrating the greener options many small enterprises are embracing on the path to net zero.

Chris Sims, chief commercial officer for UK Business at BT, remarked: “Small businesses are essential to the UK economy, and equipping entrepreneurs with the necessary support is crucial for their success. The Tour provides an excellent platform to connect with small businesses across the nation, offering tailored advice and resources to assist them in growing and adapting.”

With retailers, service providers, and startups all experiencing ongoing economic challenges, organizers emphasize that the roadshow is increasingly vital in demonstrating how small businesses continue to be the foundation of Britain’s economy.