A small business skills programme is back to help supercharge Britain’s smallest companies. Small Business Britain’s Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme – which has boosted nearly 3,000 sole traders and microbusinesses across the country since launching in 2022 – is returning in September with a mission to bridge the current skills gap for small businesses and drive UK growth.
Run in partnership with global small business platform Xero, and university ARU Peterborough, the Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme is designed for the UK’s 5.2 million microbusinesses that have historically been ineligible for or unsuited to previous Government support initiatives, such as Help to Grow that focus on more established start-ups.
The news comes as the Government announces a new national skills drive with the launch of Skills England which is due to work in partnership with employers.
“The majority of small firms in the UK are microbusinesses. They represent the future of our nation’s prosperity and are the heart of our economy. Yet despite their vast number there is very little support on offer to help these firms to make those very first steps towards growth,” says Michelle Ovens CBE, founder of Small Business Britain.
“Two years ago we set out to fix that with Small and Mighty offering targeted, practical guidance for the early stages of growing a business, and crucially, with direct access to experienced mentors. We hope this helps to drive greater opportunity as the UK economy looks set to turn a corner. And we hope that this will be accompanied by more national support for micro-businesses as the new Government sets out its plans for businesses.”
Commencing in September, the six week programme will have 500 free places available and be delivered fully online with guidance from ARU Peterborough academics, Xero experts and other seasoned professionals.
Small businesses can sign up to take part in the programme at: smallbusinessbritain.uk/small-and-mighty.
Top: Denise de Gromoboy, founder of Denalis Jewellery took part in the Small and Mighty programme to improve her expertise as a business owner.
