East Staffordshire businesses are to be showcased across the Greater Birmingham and Solihull area as part of the celebrations for the national ‘Small Business Saturday’ campaign, taking place this year on Saturday 1st December.
In partnership with ‘Enterprise for Success’ the East Staffordshire Borough Council supported programme part funded by the European Regional Development Fund offering individual support for those starting a new business or in their early days of trading – the campaign highlights key success stories of local businesses and the support that has enabled them to grow and prosper.
The ‘Enterprise for Success’ programme, includes one to one personal advice sessions, as well as a wealth of expert workshops and events.
Saqib Bhatti, GBSLEP Director for Growing Businesses and Representing SMEs, said: “As the top regional hotspot for start-up businesses over the last few years, Small Business Saturday is a great celebration of the things that have made our region the ideal place for small businesses to locate and thrive. It celebrates a
heritage of trade that spans not just decades but centuries”.
Karen Woolley, Development Manager for Federation of Small Businesses said: ‘Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy - shopping locally in the lead up to Small Business Saturday, on the day and beyond will help our local communities to prosper, aid local economic growth and help bolster job creation moving forward. The FSB has, for many years, been running its ‘Keep Trade Local’ campaign to help small, independent retailers on our high streets to survive and thrive. Small Business Saturday fits perfectly with this ethos.’
Cllr Mrs Julia Jessel, Deputy Leader for Regeneration said: “Small businesses play a major part in improving the economy, not only in Burton and East Staffordshire as a whole, but of increasing importance, nationally. The Borough Council, with its investment in regenerating Burton, is committed to improving the economic wealth of the area and supports this initiative as a great opportunity for all kinds of small businesses”.
A range of events and activities are taking place across the region to celebrate small businesses and also to highlight the support available – for the latest information please contact the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Growth Hub on 0800 032 3488, or at www.gbslepgrowthhub.co.uk, Twitter (@SmallBizSatUK) and Instagram (SmallBizSatUK) during the week of the event and on the 1st December to showcase special offers, events and their goods and services.