Member Article

Small Business Saturday to Inspire with series of free small business workshops to be streamed live

Prominent small business experts and entrepreneurs are to lead a series of free workshops, entitled the ‘Inspire Series’ that has been organised by the team behind this year’s Small Business Saturday on December 6th.

The experts will be giving talks and leading workshops open to existing and aspiring small businesses and entrepreneurs. The series will be informal and participatory and each talk will be followed by a Q&A session. Each event will also be streamed live online and will include a live Twitter Q&A to allow for digital participation for those who cannot make the talks in person.

The Inspire Series begins on October 7th at 6pm at Leeds Library with Tina Boden, co-founder of Enterprise Rockers, discussing “Small Business: Collaboration is Key”. Tina will address the importance of micro and small business owners collaborating with other small business owners to develop their offer. Tina, a Small Business Saturday Ambassador, will share why she believes the ‘Power of Plenty’ is much stronger than one lone voice in the darkness while emphasising the importance of retaining your own business identity throughout any collaboration.

From 2pm on October 20th at Somerset House London, Kay Allen OBE, Founder of Trading for Good, will demonstrate how your social value can win work and connect you to your customers.

On November 5th (11am – 12pm) at University College London, Sir Peter Bonfield, Chair of the Small Business Charter and former chairman of BT, will lead a workshop entitled “Every business has to start somewhere - how to turn an idea into a successful business”.

On November 20th at Somerset House, London, Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, will talk on ‘how to take your business online for less than £100’. This event is for any startup, store owner, or existing business, considering expanding sales by selling via marketplaces or your own dedicated website.

American Express founded the hugely successful ‘Small Business Saturday’ initiative in the U.S. in 2010 and is an active supporter of the programme in the UK, as part of its on-going commitment to encourage consumers to shop small. Small Business Saturday UK has attracted the support of leading business organisations including Federation of Small Businesses, the Association of City and Town Management, ,Association of Convenience Stores, Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association, as well as corporates like American Express, O2, Lloyds Bank and NatWest and prominent entrepreneurs Theo Paphitis, Karren Brady and Martha Lane Fox. More information on the Inspire series as well as Small Business Saturday, participating businesses and details on promotions and other incentives to ‘shop locally’ can be found on the Small Business Saturday Facebook page (www.facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturdayuk) Twitter page (@SmallBizSatUk) and website (www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com).

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Howard Robinson .