Small firms offered support and profiling from Small Business Saturday campaign’s UK roadshow

Pringle Accountants, based in Littleborough, is one local small business which will have a spotlight shone on it as part of a national roadshow to support small businesses and local entrepreneurs.

Small Business Saturday’s ‘The Tour’ will visit independent businesses, leaders and experts from across the small business community in Manchester on Thursday 11 November. Interviews will be streamed via Small Business Saturday’s social media channels including with Pringle Accountants, which champions the local Small Business Saturday initiative.

Accountant Ruth Pringle, who founded the local Rochdale30 campaign, said: “Small Business Saturday is the annual celebration of all the small businesses that make our communities unique and exciting, a campaign to encourage us all to shop local.

“Rochdale and its surrounding areas have plenty of great quality small businesses well worth a visit.

“This year, Small Business Saturday falls on 4 December, but the build up to the big day is already well underway.

“The official national roadshow is visiting Manchester tomorrow and it’s not too late to sign up and get involved, either in person or digitally, via the Small Business Saturday website.

“Over the last 2 years, many small businesses have faced incredible challenges and there has never been a better time to spend local and support local small business.”

Ruth began the successful Rochdale 30 campaign in 2016, returning each year since (excepting 2020, due to Covid).

 

 

Business owners across the nation will also be able to take part in a month-long, jam-packed online programme of free training and skills support that will run alongside, including virtual workshops, webinars, and mentoring, on a range of small business topics. A fun-filled ‘Happy Hour’ will also take place with prizes from local businesses.

Setting off from the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, The Tour has a strong focus on sustainability, to highlight the critical role of small businesses in helping the UK achieve its goal of becoming net zero by 2050.

It will feature a fleet of zero emissions vehicles - including an electric van, car, and scooter, as well as a ‘delivery style’ push bike – to reflect the sustainable switches many small businesses are making or considering.

Michelle Ovens, CBE, director of Small Business Saturday, said: “We are so excited to get back on the road and put the spotlight on fantastic small businesses in Manchester and across the country, as well as opening up skills and networking opportunities to millions of entrepreneurs online.

“I would encourage all small businesses across the North West to get involved, whether it is in person or digitally.”

Once again supported by BT Skills for Tomorrow, The Tour will visit over 20 towns and cities across the UK during November, as part of the official count down to Small Business Saturday on 4 December.

Now in its ninth year in the UK, Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which celebrates small business success and encourages consumers to 'shop local' and to support businesses in their communities.

This year the campaign is encouraging the public to use Small Business Saturday as a chance to say thank you to small businesses for supporting communities throughout the pandemic.

Last year Small Business Saturday achieved record-breaking success and saw an estimated £1.1 billion spent with small businesses across the UK on the day, according to research from American Express, the campaign’s founder and principal supporter in the UK.

To get involved in The Tour and book one-to-one mentoring sessions, small businesses should visit the ‘My Business Section’ on the Small Business Saturday website.