Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to 'shop local' and support small businesses in their communities. The day itself takes place on the first Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses. On Small Business Saturday, customers across the U.K. go out and support all types of small businesses, online, in offices and in stores. Many small businesses take part in the day by hosting events and offering discounts.
We encourage local businesses to join the campaign by signing up for the Small Business Finder and using the Marketing Pack through their My Small Business portal. Shoppers are encouraged to support local businesses.
Mayor celebrate Small Business Saturday with local businesses
Small Business Saturday, a national campaign celebrating small, independent businesses, which took place on Saturday 7 December. Mayor Fiaz OBE, supported by Cllr Caroline Adaja, Cllr Sabia Kamali and Aaron, the Vice Chair at Newham Chamber of Commerce, visited business owners across the borough to spotlight local businesses.
From the vibrant atmosphere of East Ham's newest retail destination The Market Place to the diverse offerings at Stratford’s Market Village, these businesses are integral to our local economy. They met the teams behind the new businesses like HiLand Play, inspired by young Bryon, is a play space dreamed up by a kid for all kids to Stratford Market Village, which has been home to a diverse range of micro businesses since 1974, offering a whole host of mixed products and services, from fresh food and vegetables, electronic gadgets, deli meat and homemade delicacies from pies to the infamous curry chips and was saved from collapsing earlier in the year.
Small businesses are the backbone of Newham’s thriving community, and by shopping local, we help them flourish and safe guard local jobs. Join the campaign this December and beyond to make a difference by supporting local businesses across Newham. Promoting your small business locally can be very effective with the right strategies. Here are a couple of ways the Council is helping you get started: join the Business Directory and go a step further by joining the Council's BetterPoints loyalty programme which rewards residents to get fit and earn rewards at no cost to you.
The Mayor also took the opportunity to visit Grow Box in Canning Town, our newest community engagement space. Catherine, the Director delivering the project with the help of local entrepreneurs, shared her thoughts on the visit: "Residents in Canning Town shared fledgling business ideas with the Mayor, a proud moment all round; her immediate responses to each person about how they could connect to a broader vision for a healthy, happy and thriving Newham was very powerful. Starting a business is brave but having the Mayor listen intently to the visions and take them seriously gave people the motivation to keep going."
