Small Business Saturday’s month-long UK roadshow, The Tour, is returning this year, visiting over 20 towns and cities across the country to celebrate the nation’s vibrant small business community.
Launching this autumn in Scotland, The Tour will spotlight some of the UK’s most inspiring local businesses. Backed by BT, it aims to recognise the vital role of small businesses in boosting local economies, creating jobs and supporting communities. The nationwide journey will then continue across the rest of the UK throughout November.
In the lead-up to Small Business Saturday, The Tour will also shine a light on business owners, their stories, and the local communities at the heart of the UK’s 5.45 million small businesses, celebrating their critical contribution to the economy. Planned stops include visiting a range of small businesses.
Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign that celebrates small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support businesses in their communities.
Taking place this year on 6 December, Small Business Saturday is backed by its principal supporter, American Express. Now in its 13th year, Small Business Saturday has engaged millions of shoppers, helping generate billions of pounds in spending at small businesses across the UK.
Coinciding with the roadshow, the campaign will also feature a full month of free online support for UK small businesses. 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 across the UK,” says Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK. “The Tour allows us 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 begin this next chapter and highlight the creativity and resilience that make small businesses the foundation of our communities.”
With the roadshow expected to cover around 3,000 miles, it 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.
Also commenting is Chris Sims, chief commercial officer, UK Business, at BT.
“Small businesses are vital to the UK economy, and providing entrepreneurs with the right support is crucial to their success. 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.”
The Small Business Saturday tour will visit the following UK locations:
- Monday 3 November, Lossiemouth
- Tuesday 4 November, Aberdeenshire
- Wednesday 5 November, Edinburgh
- Thursday 6 November, Belfast
- Friday 7 November, Preston
- Monday 10 November, Carlisle
- Tuesday 11 November, Durham
- Wednesday 12 November, Manchester
- Thursday 13 November, Grimsby
- Friday 14 November, Derby
- Monday 17 November, Wrexham
- Tuesday 18 November, Hereford
- Wednesday 19 November, Newport
- Thursday 20 November, Crediton
- Friday 21 November, Plymouth
- Monday 24 November, Salisbury
- Tuesday 25 November, Brighton
- Wednesday 26 November, Maidstone
- Thursday 27 November, Leighton Buzzard
- Friday 28 November, Cambridge
- Monday 1 December, London
- Tuesday 2 December, London
- Wednesday 3 December, London
For more information on Small Business Saturday and to get involved in The Tour, please click here.