Write a comment
A Newry co-working space is one of the small businesses from across Northern Ireland that features in the annual Small Business Saturday’s SmallBiz100.
As the annual campaign kicks off its call to celebrate and support the nation’s favourite businesses, The Hub joins Belfast’s natural haircare brand Percy & Pop, Saintfield safety business Fly High Inspections and Still I Rise Diversity Storytelling in Belfast in this year’s line-up of the UK’s most innovative and admired small businesses.
Each business will be showcased as part of a 100-day countdown to Small Business Saturday on 6 December. The campaign aims to celebrate and uplift independent firms by encouraging the public to support and spend with small businesses. Small Business Saturday is not just a date. It’s a year-round national movement to spotlight the small businesses that make a big difference to our communities and economy.
The Hub Newry - co-founded by Suzanne Murdoch, this coworking and event space offers a supportive community for remote workers and micro businesses.
“Being named one of this year’s SmallBiz100 is an honour, it shines a light on the role neighbourhood coworking spaces play in helping small businesses and communities thrive,” said Murdock.
“Small businesses are built on heart and resilience, we’re proud to be recognised in the SmallBiz100 for championing both every day.”
Despite signs small business confidence is returning, the UK’s 5.45 million small firms continue to face an array of economic challenges. Campaigners say public support will be vital for small businesses heading into the final critical peak period of the year and essential to powering much-needed economic growth.
“Small businesses are the nation’s favourite businesses – bringing immeasurable value to our local communities and powering the wider economy,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday UK.
“From family-run cafés and local restaurants, to independent makers, services and traders, this year’s SmallBiz100 represents some of the UK’s most-loved small businesses. It is exciting to kick off this year’s campaign with so many fantastic businesses from across Northern Ireland featured. With small firms still facing lots of challenges, public support makes all the difference as independent firms enter their most critical quarter of the year.”
Small Business Saturday is a grassroots non-commercial campaign that was originally founded by American Express in the U.S. in 2010, and the brand remains the campaign’s principal supporter in the UK.
Dan Edelman, General Manager, UK Merchant Services at American Express, said: “Through our long-standing support of Small Business Saturday, American Express is proud to champion the nation’s small businesses. Congratulations to this year’s SmallBiz100, which once again showcases the incredible vibrancy and innovation of small firms and the valuable contribution they make to local communities.”
On Small Business Saturday, customers across the UK go out and support all types of small businesses, from independent shops and restaurants, to small service and b2b businesses like plumbers and accountants. Many small businesses take an active role in promoting the day by hosting events and offering promotions.
Last year, the campaign saw support from the Prime Minister, the Mayor of London, as well as the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Over 90% of local councils also supported the campaign, which trended across social media on the day.
To learn more Small Business Saturday’s SmallBiz100 visit smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com
