Preston has been announced as one of the locations to be visited by Small Business Saturday’s national roadshow this autumn, as part of plans to celebrate the nation’s favourite small businesses.
‘The Tour’ is a month-long nationwide roadshow, visiting and spotlighting some of the UK’s most inspiring small businesses, as part of the countdown to Small Business Saturday on 6 December.
Preston will be visited on Friday 7th November, alongside 22 other locations across the country throughout November, from Belfast and Edinburgh to Newport and Salisbury.
Backed by BT, ‘The Tour’ will champion the entrepreneurs at the very heart of local areas, showcasing their vital role in boosting local economies, creating jobs, and supporting communities.
Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign that celebrates small businesses and encourages the public to support and spend with small businesses.
Backed by principal supporter American Express, the campaign has been running for over a decade since 2013. Over this time, it has engaged millions of people and seen billions of pounds spent with small businesses across the UK on Small Business Saturday, with an impact that lasts all year round.
Coinciding with the roadshow, the campaign will also feature a full month of free online support for small businesses all over the UK. This includes daily workshops, mentoring sessions, and insight events featuring small business owners and industry experts.
“Small Business Saturday is all about championing the incredible entrepreneurs who bring passion, innovation and heart to communities like Preston”, said Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK.
“The Tour gives us the opportunity to hit the road and engage directly with the nation’s favourite small businesses, celebrating their unique stories and the essential role they play in strengthening local economies. We’re excited to be visiting the area to highlight the creativity and resilience that make small businesses the foundation of our communities.”
Covering around 3,000 miles, ‘The Tour’ will continue to use electric vehicles to reduce emissions and showcase the sustainable choices many small business owners are making on the journey toward net zero.
Mark Whittle of Preston Business Improvement District said: “Small Business Saturday is national event, a big deal when it comes to promoting small businesses across the country.
“We’re really pleased that the team have seen something special in Preston and have included us as one of their preferred destinations.
“We look forward to working with the Tour Team, local partners, and of course, our brilliant small businesses, to promote the quality and diversity of businesses that call Preston home”.
“Small businesses are vital to the UK economy, and providing entrepreneurs with the right support is crucial to their success,” said Chris Sims, Chief Commercial Officer, UK Business, at BT.
“The Tour offers a great platform to engage with small businesses across the country, delivering tailored advice and resources to help them grow and adapt. This is an important initiative that allows businesses to connect for good, strengthening local communities and fostering innovation and resilience across the economy.”
Councillor Valerie Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building said: “Preston is place where we champion ‘shop local’ through our ‘Preston Model’ approach to business, so we’re delighted to welcome the Small Business Saturday Tour to our city. Being included and recognised in the UK tour is a fantastic opportunity for all the independently owned business of Preston.
“Not only does the tour help to raise the profile and promote our amazing homegrown businesses, but it also offers some great longer-term opportunities for traders to access free online training, mentoring and networking with other successful small businesses across the country.”
For more information on Small Business Saturday and to get involved in The Tour visit – https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com
