Small Business Saturday is offering a major programme of free online mentoring and training to help firms tackle ongoing economic challenges. Small business owners across the country are being encouraged to sign up for a programme of free virtual workshops and one-to-one mentoring taking place this autumn. The activity is a core part of the campaign’s nationwide roadshow, ‘The Tour,’ which forms part of the official countdown to Small Business Saturday on 2 December supported by BT Skills for Tomorrow.
Small businesses from anywhere in the country can sign up for over 20 workshops. Leading experts will cover a range of useful topics including Sustainability for Small Businesses; Unlocking Grants and Investments; Business Planning, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion guidance. To make this learning even more motivating for small businesses, those attending at least 10 workshops will receive a Christmas gift; a JustBe Botanicals bath set.
Participants include Fiona Minett (pictured top), founder of Boss Your PR, who will host a virtual training session on securing press coverage for small business owners. Also, Rondi Allan, founder of Sustainable X, who will run a session the importance of sustainability. Holy Lama Naturals’ Gouri Kubair, meanwhile, will host a training session on finance for entrepreneurs. Free one-to-one online coaching sessions with business mentors will also be available.
Rondi Allan, founder of Sustainable X, will run a session the importance of sustainability as part of Small Business Saturday’s online roadshow
From 30 October, The Tour will also be travelling to 23 locations across the country to profile small businesses.
The campaign will make use of electric vehicles to limit emissions and represent the strides small businesses are making in the race to net zero. Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to tell their stories and network on Small Business Saturday’s social media channels. There will also be a weekly Small Business Happy Hour featuring giveaways from local businesses.
Commenting is Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK. “Small Business Saturday has supported the UK’s entrepreneurs for over a decade. This year’s programme will really help small businesses as they tackle huge challenges due to the cost-of-living crisis and encourage a more optimistic look to the future.”
Gouri Kubair of Holy Lama Naturals will host a training session on finance for entrepreneurs as part of Small Business Saturday’s digital offering
The campaign, now in its 11th year, will take place on 2 December 2023, with backing from principal supporter American Express.
Also commenting is Chris Sims, BT’s MD for Small and Medium Business. “Small Business Saturday is a fantastic initiative that empowers entrepreneurs to tackle the biggest challenges they are facing today. This year, small businesses can access specialist mentoring and support, giving them tailored guidance on issues ranging from effective marketing to cyber security.
“As the tour enters its second decade, we are proud to be partnering with Small Business Saturday on this initiative again through our Skills for Tomorrow program, which has helped over one million entrepreneurs grow their small businesses with free digital skills training.”
Small businesses can book workshops here. Mentoring slots can be booked via the My Small Business section of the Small Business Saturday website, where small firms can log in or create a profile, and click on ‘The Tour 2023’ tab.
