Small Business Saturday is putting wheels in motion for a new nationwide roadshow to support small businesses across the UK. Setting off from the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, ‘The Tour’ will visit 20 British towns and cities. Part of the countdown to Small Business Saturday, it will support, inspire and spotlight the six million small businesses across the UK.

Additionally, it will showcase a fleet of eco vehicles for the first time; reflecting daily life for small businesses and the sustainable switches many are making or considering. The vehicles will include an electric van, car and scooter, as well as a ‘delivery style’ push bike.

This comes as 97% of small businesses say sustainability is important to their business according to research by Tour supporter BT Skills for Tomorrow and Small Business Britain. A zero emissions Tour, the focus on sustainability is part of a drive to reduce environmental impact. Also, to highlight the key role small businesses play in getting the UK to Net Zero by 2050.

The Tour will deliver a hybrid format of online and in-person activity.

This will include virtual workshops, webinars and mentoring on a range of small business topics. There will also be visits and live-streamed interviews with local businesses in cities including Manchester, Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh. Plus, in coastal towns like Whitley Bay and rural Hereford.

Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday, says; “We are so excited to get back on the road with this new Tour. Putting the spotlight on fantastic small businesses and their communities, as well as opening up skills and networking opportunities to millions of entrepreneurs using a new hybrid format. Running The Tour in an environmentally conscious way is incredibly important to us. In doing so, we hope to encourage small businesses to take the leap and pledge to go Net Zero.”

Also commenting is Chris Sims, BT’s managing director for its SoHo (Single/Small office, Home office) unit. “Despite the hugely tough period small businesses have endured across the UK, we have seen many businesses embrace new ways of working and a shift towards digital. The Tour is a fantastic initiative to reach out and support small businesses with the digital skills they need as they look to scale up in key areas such as digital marketing and sustainability. We are delighted to be supporting it again this year.”

Kicking off on 1 November, The Tour will be on the road for a month. It will finish in London shortly ahead of Small Business Saturday on 4 December.

Now in its ninth year in the UK, Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign. It celebrates small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support businesses in their communities. Last year Small Business Saturday achieved record-breaking success. An estimated £1.1 billion was spent with small businesses across the UK on the day according to research from American Express, the campaign’s founder and principal supporter in the UK.

For further information on The Tour and to book one-to-one mentoring sessions visit the ‘My Business Section’ on the Small Business Saturday website.