With Small Business Saturday on December 3rd, what better time to remind people of the value of small businesses and our entire business community.

In Buckinghamshire, we mean business. Don’t believe us? It says so in this fabulous video that showcases many of our creative and wonderful businesses!

The economic impact

More than 30,000 businesses in Buckinghamshire spend every day helping the local and national economy to grow, providing jobs for residents and tax revenues for the government. Buckinghamshire taxpayers generate £240 billion a year for the UK, and each job created or safeguarded within a business in the county has a value of at least £26,000 to the economy.

The human impact

Each of the jobs created by our business community provides somebody with a wage, a purpose, and an increased ability to look after themselves and their families, with corresponding health benefits and a lower burden on the welfare state.

Small businesses are around every corner

Buckinghamshire is home to innovators and iconic brands like Ercol, Hypnos, Pinewood and Silverstone to name a few, while at the same time boasts more small businesses than anywhere else in the UK. And these small businesses can turn up in unexpected places.

We are probably all familiar with businesses in our local high street, but what about the self-employed accountant living across the road, the freelance director working out of the home you walk past every day, the businesses thriving, or struggling, in business parks on the outskirts of town, the farm shop around the corner that you might need to get lost to find? Small businesses are everywhere and are the lifeblood of our economy.

Businesses are part of our communities

Businesses help people. They help communities. They help our economy. They provide opportunity for future generations. They matter. It may not always be easy to see how supporting local businesses benefits the wider community, but when we see that those businesses are so fundamentally woven into the fabric of our local areas, it gets easier to join the dots.

Here at Buckinghamshire Business First, we believe that supporting the business community also supports the future prosperity of our wider communities. But we need to keep making this point and highlighting the importance of businesses.

In last year’s Buckinghamshire Council ‘Money Matters’ consultation, support for businesses was listed in the areas where residents think the council should spend less.

That’s why initiatives like Small Business Saturday, the dedicated support we provide, and the work of our entire business community, are more important than ever.

Businesses are a part of our community, and they need the support of local people to survive and thrive. 

What is Small Business Saturday?

Small Business Saturday is a day designed to:

• highlight the wonderful efforts of small businesses across the UK
• celebrate small business successes
• encourage consumer to ‘shop local’ and support their local communities

Of course, this is a 365 day a year goal, so think of Small Business Saturday as an awareness-raising day that can have a lasting impact on small businesses.

The next Small Business Saturday takes place on December 3rd 2022.

How your business can get involved

The first thing to do is to register for free on the Small Business Finder – an interactive map of the UK that features all businesses that have signed up to the tool.

The tool allows people to search by business type and postcode/location to find what they need.

If you’re not registered, people won’t find you. But they might find your competitor!

The Small Business Finder is not just searchable on one day of the year – it’s used on all 365 days, so make sure you’re not missing out!

Small Biz 100

Every year, Small Business Saturday highlights 100 small businesses, one a day for 100 days leading up to Small Business Saturday 2022. See this year’s full list here.

How to make the most of the day

Learn more about making the most of Small Business Saturday, including hosting events or offering discounts to attract customers on the day, or in the build-up.

How to get involved on social media

If you get involved and want to shout about it on social media, tag in Small Business Saturday (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and make sure you tag in Buckinghamshire Business First too!

What can individuals do?

Small Business Saturday is perfect for people that want to ensure the survival of their local high streets, shops and other businesses.

Spending thoughtfully can ensure that our small businesses are able to flourish, build resilience, and prepare for any future crises.

Support can be shown in person or online – what counts is the support itself!

Learn more about Small Business Saturday here. Search the Small Business Finder for a business near you.