Government supports first ever Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is a great chance for small businesses to promote themselves and generate trade.
The UK is celebrating its first Small Business Saturday on 7 December 2013.
Small Business Saturday is a great chance for small businesses to promote themselves and generate trade. In the US, where it’s an established commercial holiday, it generated $5.5 billion in sales in 2012.
How to get involved
In the UK, Small Business Saturday is a grassroots campaign. Small businesses of all kinds are taking part. They’re planning special deals for customers, showcase events, joint marketing with local media and much more. Small Business Saturday works when small businesses take action.
The Prime Minister, the government and all the major political parties are endorsing the day. Government departments are working with the campaign to support small businesses on the day. Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock MP will be talking live about Small Business Saturday on Twitter (@SmallBizSatUK) on Thursday 31 October.
Small business organisations, local authorities, community groups, big businesses, banks, accountants and others are involved too. They’re promoting the day locally, to their members, customers and supply chains. Some are planning business healthchecks, clinics, and online advice.
How other people are involved
- Henley is doing a special Small Business Saturday version of its Living Advent Calendar
- Proudly In York is hosting a local business Christmas market
- Milford Haven is holding its Christmas Town Lantern Parade
- Bridlington is having its Christmas Events day with Yorkshire Coast Radio and East Riding of Yorkshire Council is starting its free parking Christmas parking scheme on the day
- Southend High Street is planning a Festive Fun day
- the Small Business Saturday campaign is counting down to 7 December by featuring a different small business everyday on its Small Business Saturday Facebook page.
Why Small Business Saturday is important
It matters because small businesses matter and we want to celebrate them. It’s just one day, but we all rely on small businesses every day. There are 4.8 million small businesses in the UK and over 14 million people work in them. If Small Business Saturday raises the profile of small businesses, it will have done its job.
Please support Small Business Saturday by:
- tweeting about it using the hashtag (#SmallBizSatUK) and following the national campaign @SmallBizSatUK
- posting your ideas and plans on Small Business Saturday on Facebook
- doing business with a small business on 7 December