Small Business Saturday is coming

Small businesses across Manchester enjoyed a boost in the national spotlight, when the Small Business Saturday roadshow pulled into town to support and celebrate the area’s small businesses as they face mounting challenges over the winter.

Marking ten years of the iconic campaign in the UK, Small Business Saturday’s Tour arrived in Manchester and visited local business owners and community leaders, livestreaming their stories on social media. 

This included a visit to local chocolatier Coca Cabana, Police car hire specialists Action Media Hire and K’s Wors – producer and seller of the delicious South African sausage Boerewors. 

A Small Business Happy Hour on Instagram also took place each day with giveaways from KDN Ceramics.

Once again supported by BT Skills for Tomorrow, ‘The Tour’ is visiting 23 towns and cities across the UK during November, as part of the official count down to Small Business Saturday on December 3.

Amanda Alexander, owner of Giddy Goat Toys, said: “It was lovely to meet the Small Business Saturday team on Tour in Manchester, and to hear about the many free resources they can offer small business owners in terms of webinars, mentoring and support as well as the various Facebook groups available for help, advice and networking.

"It can feel quite isolating running your own business and it’s not always obvious where to get help and advice, not to mention not knowing if there’ll be a catch or a cost involved. 

"With Small Business Saturday there’s no catch, no cost, just a lovely helpful friendly bunch of people who are passionate about helping small business owners.”

Many entrepreneurs from across the region also took part in business mentoring and workshops, as part of a programme of online training and skills support that is being offered free by the campaign, on a range of small business topics.

Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which celebrates small businesses and encourages consumers to 'shop local' and to support businesses in their communities. 

Backed by founder and principal supporter American Express, the campaign has engaged millions and seen billions spent with small businesses on Small Business Saturday in the time it has been running in the UK.

With sustainability and energy saving high on the agenda for small firms, ‘The Tour’ features a fleet of environmentally friendly vehicles - including an electric van and ‘delivery style’ push bike - that reflect the sustainable switches many small business owners are making, whilst also highlighting the vital role small firms play in the race to net zero. 

“We were so delighted to visit Manchester and celebrate all the fantastic businesses in the area,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday.

“Small businesses are in the midst of an incredibly tough period so it was great to highlight the amazing contribution they make to the local area.”

Small businesses across Greater Manchester and the UK can get involved in The Tour online for the rest of November, by booking a place on to free workshops or one-to-one mentoring sessions via the ‘My Business Section’ on the Small Business Saturday website here

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.