Small Business Britain supports the UK’s 5.5 million small businesses through reports, events and campaigns. This includes Small Business Saturday, a campaign which has now been running for over a decade. Its founder, Michelle Ovens CBE, was inspired by her passion for small businesses and the communities around them that have always been part of her life:

“Small businesses need access to support, funding, and training, but for a whole host of reasons this can be hard for them to access. I wanted to build a platform to really boost support for small businesses and throw a spotlight on the value they bring. Their stories and successes deserve to be celebrated, so that has always been a key part of Small Business Britain’s aims to foster growth and increase confidence.”

What would your advice be to businesses looking to inspire and help the community around them?

“Small businesses are at the heart of communities and offer huge value locally. Taking the time to learn what the community around you needs will be extremely impactful–get involved in local events, network as much as possible, and listen to people’s stories and concerns.

“By connecting in this way you’ll get a really good picture of the people and businesses that surround you, and discover opportunities to make an impact locally that enables everyone to thrive.”

What are your plans for the future?

“I’m especially passionate about bridging the gap for underrepresented entrepreneurs, who often have more difficulty securing funding, and accessing the support they need to grow – such as training, events, networking and mentoring.

“Through the Lilac Review for example, which Small Business Britain is spearheading, we are working to address the inequality faced by disabled founders and elevate entrepreneurial opportunity across the UK. We run similar campaigns to boost entrepreneurial inclusion, such as through initiatives to support female founders and business owners from diverse backgrounds.”