Small Business Saturday 2015 announced

The third annual celebration of UK local businesses will return at the beginning of December, it has been announced.
Small Business Saturday 2015 is scheduled for 5 December, with events being held in the lead up to the weekend from this month.

A nationwide event to support, inspire and promote the five million-plus small businesses operational in the UK, Small Business Saturday proved incredibly popular last year with more than 16 million people supporting a local independent on the day.

The format of this year’s event will follow a similar pattern, with events planned regionally along with a nationwide bus tour to raise awareness.

Inspire will run a nationwide series of free workshops for existing and aspiring small business owners with informal discussions and Q&A’s which will be streamed online and available via the Small Business Saturday YouTube channel.

American Express is the founding supporter of the UK event, after it initially established the initiative in the United States back in 2010.

Michelle Ovens, national campaign director, Small Business Saturday UK, said: “Last year, small business owners, local authorities, a wide range of other organisations and members of the public really embraced Small Business Saturday.

“It succeeded because people recognised the importance of having a vibrant and successful small business sector and not only came out on the day itself but got involved in the run-up to it in their local communities.

“We will mobilise that support again this year to achieve our ambition of putting small businesses at the centre of everyone’s lives.

“We are tremendously excited about this year’s event, and we expect tens of thousands of FSB members across the UK to take part again on 5 December 2015.

“Small Business Saturday is a great moment for everyone to celebrate the best of British. Let’s hope this year can be even better – encouraging thousands more people to support small businesses.”

Last updated: 16th April 2015