THE sixth Small Business Saturday, a campaign to support and promote the UK’s 5.7 million small businesses, will launch in Belfast today when the campaign bus rolls into Belfast between 10am and 2pm to shine a spotlight on the city’s leading SMEs.
The campaign bus will travel more than 3,000 miles across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, visiting 30 locations over 25 days (it was in Armagh on Thursday).
The bus will offer free mentoring sessions to small businesses, including mentors from Xero’s network of small business accountants.
Up to 20 of Belfast’s top small businesses can also apply to be a ‘Business On Board’, for a chance to exhibit to the public and be profiled across the campaign’s popular social media channels.
The bus stop will also feature a special ‘Blue Sofa’ interview series, where small businesses, entrepreneurs and leading local figures can share stories about their small business or their local area to a Facebook live audience.
The bus tour is an important part of the official countdown to Small Business Saturday,which takes place on December 1.
It will also highlight Northern Island’s representatives from the UK Small Biz 100, including Belfast’s Aly Harte, an artist, educator and writer who is passionate about placing importance on everyday moments, objects and places in her oil paintings and pastel work.
Michelle Ovens, director of Small Business Saturday, said: “We are excited for the bus to be stopping in Belfast and championing small businesses throughout the local area and providing a listening ear and a chance for mentoring.
"Small firms account for more than 90 per cent of all Northern Ireland businesses and employ more people than the public sector and larger businesses combined.
"The city is the perfect place to celebrate their success and continue this legacy. The tour is not just open to businesses, it’s open to everyone – every individual who can take a moment to appreciate the far-reaching impact small businesses have on their community."
