Building buzz around small business

Great British Beer 3Plan Bee is helping to build the buzz around Small Business Saturday (5th December 2015).

The annual event, which takes place on the first Saturday in December, encourages UK shoppers to think about their small, local companies rather than looking to huge supermarkets and the usual High Street retailers.

“Small businesses account for a huge £1.8 TRILLION share of the UK’s economy, but they also account for millions of UK jobs. Nearly 16 million people are employed by over five million small businesses across the country. These businesses are helping to increase and diversify the skills that we have here in Britain, and to raise the profile of the country internationally as a country to do business with.”

Last year more than £500million was spent on Small Business Saturday, as shoppers flooded out in support, with 64% of UK consumers aware of the now annual event.

National Campaign Director, Michelle Ovens added:

“The Small Business Saturday campaign plays a valuable role in focusing the minds of consumers and business people on what small businesses in any sector or line of business can offer in terms of range of products and services and levels of customer service. Most people in this country own a small business, work for a small business or know somebody who does, so supporting a small business on Small Business Saturday is personal and means you are supporting somebody you know.”

Plan Bee has become a leading light in the small business community in Scotland, as one of the fastest growing sustainability businesses in Britain. The company has scooped around 30 accolades in less than five years, working out at around one every eight weeks. The company has worked closely with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce to promote its sustainability brand and high quality honey products not only in Scotland, but across the UK and internationally.

Stuart Patrick, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive, said:

“Small businesses like Plan Bee are the bedrock of the community, and it should be remembered that every big company started off as a small one. It’s important that consumers support local enterprise, and Small Business Saturday highlights that well.”

Small businesses account for a huge £1.8 TRILLION share of the UK’s economy, but they also account for millions of UK jobs. Nearly 16 million people are employed by over five million small businesses across the country. These businesses are helping to increase and diversify the skills that we have here in Britain, and to raise the profile of the country internationally as a country to do business with.