Small Business Saturday shines a spotlight on small businesses and encourages people to shop local on the first Saturday of December, which this year falls on 3rd December and is Small Business Saturday’s 10th anniversary!
There are a number of great ways your business can get involved in Small Business Saturday and boost its publicity:
Tag the Small Business Saturday team (@SmallBizSatUK / #SmallBizSatUK) in your social media posts, showcasing your products or services and any deals you have on.
Get interviewed on social media and share your advice with fellow entrepreneurs across the UK. Sign-up for a spot by emailing the Small Business Saturday team at thetour@smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com with the subject line ‘Live Interview’.
If you’ve got a great product that you’d like featured in their daily Happy Hour giveaway, email the Small Business Saturday team at thetour@smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com with the subject line ‘Happy Hour’ letting them know what product you suggest – they’ll even purchase it from you!
If you’re planning any events on the day, let the Small Business Saturday team know at media@smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com so they can promote it across their channels.
The Small Business Saturday team are offering free virtual 1-1 mentoring sessions, as well as running a range of free daily online workshops covering 'launching your e-Commerce website', to 'how to kickstart your sales'! Find out more about the mentoring and workshops here.
Wandsworth Council is also running its #ShopLocal campaign and is encouraging businesses in the borough to get involved. Add your business to My Virtual Wandsworth, and if your business sells great gift items add it to the Wandsworth Gift Directory. If you have any offers or deals that you want promoting this festive season then email us at open4business@wandsworth.gov.uk with the subject line ‘Shop Local Promotion’ and we will promote them across our various channels.
London Business Hub have put together a Cost of Doing Business Hub which has practical resources and support to help you navigate the rising cost of doing business.
The Cost of Doing Business Hub includes up to date information about the Chancellors Autumn statement, energy bill support, debt support and more.
Wandsworth Council are working to provide access to a network of Warm Spaces where Wandsworth residents can come together to stay warm this winter.
If you or your organisation has a suitable heated venue that could open its doors this winter, Wandsworth Council would like to hear from you and include your offer in the Warm Spaces directory.
You may also be eligible to receive funding to support your provision of a Warm Space and food.
The festive season is here and the Council has compiled a list of family friendly festive events taking place across the borough over the next months. These not-to-be-missed events include: Christmas light switch-ons, carol singing, pantomimes, fairs, art trails, festive markets and more!
If you’re looking to buy gifts for family and friends, or even yourself, why not head down to the local festive markets taking place across Wandsworth this year. It's a great way to shop local and support your local businesses. Here are just some of the festive markets taking place:
Creatives are invited to apply for up to £10K to bring creative interventions to Wandsworth's public which celebrate our communities and places spaces over WAF2023 (9-25 June).
Applicants will be experienced in creating cultural projects which respond to local people and their stories and have experience of successful community engagement.
HomeWork are opening a new workspace at the Ram Quarter Wandsworth in the new year and are offering a fixed desk at £99 per month for the first 3 months.
The offer is available until Saturday 31st December, sign-up before their launch to be eligible for the offer.
Free training for employers in the night time economy
As part of the safer streets campaign, the Wandsworth Council's Community Safety team have commissioned a number of free anti-sexual harassment, vulnerability and bystander training online courses for businesses that work in the night time economy.
Join the Breastfeeding is Welcome Scheme and let breastfeeders know they are welcome at your premises. By advertising the breastfeeding welcome signs and logos, you demonstrate that you care about your customers, even the youngest ones.
Joining the scheme will promote your business or service, and you will become part of a positive nationwide health campaign with it listed on the Breastfeeding Is Welcome Scheme website which advertises breastfeeding friendly places across the nation, enabling families to feel welcome and supported with their feeding choices.
We spoke to Michelle Casey, copywriter and founder of Words with Impact, about launching her own copywriting business following lockdown and doing the ‘first’ of everything .
Events and PR’s SME London Business Awards celebrates industrious, hardworking and enterprising SME’s in London. Entering into the awards is an opportunity to raise the profile of your business, spotlight what it has achieved and have a credible endorsement of success, which in turn provides great marketing and PR opportunities.
The SME London Business Awards are awarded across the following 19 categories:
Best Customer Service – Public Vote
Best Enterprising Business
Best New Business
Business Innovation
Business of the Year less than 50 Employees
Business of the Year more than 50 Employees
Business Person of the Year
Business Woman of the Year
Community Business of the Year
Corporate Social Responsibility Award
Employer of the Year
Family Business of the Year
High Growth Business of the Year
Networking Group of the Year
Positive Impact Award
Service Excellence
Sustainability Award
Website of the Year
Young Business Person of the Year
You may enter up to 3 awards categories and 1 public vote category. The entry rate is £25 + VAT per application.
Deadline for entry is 3pm Wednesday 30th November.
Better Futures+ programme provides SMEs with a variety of free resources and support to help make your business more sustainable and meet Net Zero Carbon emissions.
Startup School for Seniors's programme is for those aged 50+ who are trying to set up a business for the first time or who want to increase their trading income.
The Budget – What it means for your small business
Thursday 1st December 11:00 - 12:00
Find out what the new Budget means for your small business at Small Business Britain's free webinar with finance expert Faye Watts from Fuse Accountants .
Go4Growth is a free programme which provides SMEs and organisations with the skills, tools and documentation required to secure work with public sector organisations.
Understanding your Lease, Rent Negotiation & Business Rates
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London Business Hub‘s free Property Advice Service masterclasses will cover a range of topics to support your business on the issue of being a commercial tenant.
Delivered by The Food Brand Guys, this workshop at Mission Kitchen will teach you how to create an on-brand website for your food business. Tickets are £15.
Want to promote your business to local residents? My Virtual Wandsworth features more than 600 local businesses – make sure yours is one of them! List it in our online directory.
