Stop by the Small Business Saturday Bus in Stevenage Town Centre on 14th November!

Stop by the Small Business Saturday Bus in Stevenage Town Centre on 14th November!

The masterminds of Small Business Saturday UK (SBS), a grassroots and non-commercial campaign that is focused on highlighting small business success and promoting local, independent businesses, has announced that Stevenage will be one of their 25 stops on a nationwide bus tour this autumn. Celebrating their 5th anniversary this year, this campaign is set to be its biggest yet.

The arrival of the Small Business Saturday Bus in Stevenage is fast approaching, stopping in the town centre, (Danestrete, Stevenage, SG1 1HN), from 10am-2pm on Tuesday 14th November as part of a national tour. Stevenage is the stopping point for the bus in Hertfordshire and the SBS team will be collaborating with key regional organisations such as Stevenage Borough Council, The Business & Technology Centre (btc), Wenta, FSB, Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, Herts Growth Hub, Herts LEP, The Prince’s Trust and many more.

Coinciding with Global Entrepreneurship Week, the event is being run in the lead up to Small Business Saturday itself which falls on Saturday 2nd December. On the 14th of November there will be a showcase of the small business community in Stevenage as part of the bus tour and the 2nd of December will see a secondary event, focused on showcasing small businesses to the wider Stevenage community.

Event schedule for Tuesday 14th November:

Bas Plews, Prince’s Trust charity ambassador, who will be speaking at the event to young entrepreneurs, said: “I’m delighted to be able to share my experiences with would-be entrepreneurs through The Prince’s Trust, to show young people today what’s possible for those who can see an opportunity and really go for it.”

Ralph Raynor, Executive Member for Economy, Enterprise and Transport at Stevenage Borough Council, said: “We are very pleased that the Small Business Saturday bus tour is coming to Stevenage. It’s a great opportunity for small businesses to showcase their work and use the mentoring and advice sessions provided to learn valuable skills to help their business grow.”

Charlotte Amner, Senior Marketing Executive of The Business & Technology Centre (btc) said: “It’s an exciting time for the Stevenage community and the small businesses that make up the heart of it. Encouraging residents and small businesses alike to support each other and shop locally. We are thrilled that some of our own clients at the btc will be able to proudly showcase their professional products and services. #SBS17STEVENAGE”

Pam Charman, Chairman of the Hertfordshire branch of The Federation of Small Businesses said: “We are ecstatic that the Small Business Saturday Bus is visiting Stevenage, where both budding entrepreneurs and longer established businesses provide such a huge contribution to the local economy.”

In 2016 customers across the nation spent £717m with small businesses on Small Business Saturday, an increase of 15% on the previous year. Over 80% of local authorities across the UK actively supported the campaign, including Stevenage Borough Council through a variety of initiatives such as the Speed Mentoring event that took place at The Business & Technology Centre.

To find out more on the event taking place on the 14th November visit: www.stevenage.gov.uk/sbs

• For more information on Small Business Saturday visit their website at: www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com

• The Business & Technology Centre (btc) is owned by Stevenage Borough Council and managed by Wenta, one of the leading Enterprise Agencies in the East of England and a social enterprise.