Over 10,000 businesses have now registered to support UK Small Business Week as the nationwide campaign officially gets underway.
The initiative, created by entrepreneur Nigel Botterill and backed by Entrepreneurs Circle, has seen a huge surge of support from business owners across the UK in recent days.
More than 1,000 official support packs containing posters, promotional materials and campaign assets sold out within 48 hours of being announced last week, with organisers describing the response as “far bigger and faster” than expected.
Botterill said the early momentum showed just how strongly people feel about supporting Britain’s small business community.
“The energy is there,” he said.
“You can feel it. Business owners want to get involved. Communities want to support local businesses. People are proud to back independents and honestly, after the response we’ve seen already, I genuinely think this can become something huge.”
UK Small Business Week runs from June 1–7 and is designed to encourage consumers to support the small firms, independents and entrepreneurs helping keep the UK moving.
Businesses across the country are being encouraged to share their stories, display campaign materials and get involved online throughout the week.
Consumers are also being urged to “show up” by shopping local and backing the businesses that keep towns, high streets and communities alive.
Botterill said the campaign had struck a chord because many business owners feel overlooked despite the role they play in creating jobs and opportunities.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the economy,” he said.
“They’re the people opening up early, locking up late, taking risks and working incredibly hard to build something.
“They support local causes. Sponsor kids’ football teams. Employ local people. Keep communities alive.
“And yet too often they feel ignored.
“That’s why this week matters.”
The Entrepreneurs Circle founder said he hopes UK Small Business Week can become a long-term national movement that helps shift the conversation around entrepreneurship and independent business.
“We don’t need more negativity around business owners,” he said. We need more encouragement. More backing. More people actively choosing to support them. Because when small businesses do well, the whole country benefits.
“The momentum is already there. Now let’s back them and get our small businesses booming.”
Businesses and supporters can find out more via https://entrepreneurscircle.org/sbw/
