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Carlisle was one of the locations to be visited by Small Business Saturday’s national roadshow this week, as part of plans to celebrate the nation’s favourite small businesses.
‘The Tour’ is a month-long nationwide roadshow, visiting and spotlighting some of the UK’s most inspiring small businesses, as part of the countdown to Small Business Saturday on 6 December.
With the support of Cumberland Council, they visited Carlisle on Monday 10 November. The city is alongside 22 other locations across the country getting a visit throughout November, from Belfast and Edinburgh to Newport and Salisbury.
Backed by BT, ‘The Tour’ will champion the entrepreneurs at the very heart of local areas, showcasing their vital role in boosting local economies, creating jobs, and supporting communities.
Small businesses across Carlisle were visited by Small Business Saturday’s roadshow team, who will share their entrepreneurial stories across social media, alongside showcasing behind-the-scenes tours and demonstrations.
Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign that celebrates small businesses and encourages the public to support and spend with small businesses.
Backed by principal supporter American Express, the campaign has been running for over a decade since 2013. Over this time, it has engaged millions of people and seen billions of pounds spent with small businesses across the UK on Small Business Saturday, with an impact that lasts all year round.
Coinciding with the roadshow, the campaign will also feature a full month of free online support for small businesses all over the UK. 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 like Carlisle.” said Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK.
“The Tour gives us the opportunity 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 were excited to visit the area to highlight the creativity and resilience that make small businesses the foundation of our communities.”
Covering around 3,000 miles, ‘The Tour’ 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.
Cumberland Council is supporting the initiative and is encouraging residents and visitors to shop local.
Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, said:
“We are delighted that Cumberland was chosen to be part of the Small Business Saturday’s Tour. It is a great showcase for our businesses and highlights the recent improvements to Carlisle’s city centre.
“We encourage people to shop local and support local businesses throughout our area, especially on the build-up to Christmas.”
Chris Sims, Chief Commercial Officer, UK Business, at BT added:
“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.”
For more information on Small Business Saturday and to get involved in The Tour visit – https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com
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