Theo Paphitis Partners with Titans of Industry to upskill and motivate the UK’s Leading Small Business Network #SBS Small Business Sunday

TV Dragon and Retail Entrepreneur Theo Paphitis will be hosting a free annual event for one of the UK’s leading small business initiatives #SBS Small Business Sunday, at the Birmingham ICC in February.  The event is the annual highlight for many small businesses in the UK, and is an opportunity to hear from industry experts and partners of the #SBS Community.  This is the 11th free event that Theo Paphitis has hosted for his network of winners, since its launch in 2013.

On supporting small business, Retail Entrepreneur and Creator of #SBS Theo Paphitis said: “I am delighted that the #SBS voice is recognised as a free initiative that packs a punch for UK’s small businesses. To have industry-leading backing, through an exclusive list of innovative and expert fantastic partners, will open doors of opportunity for the 4,000-strong network.  In these tough times SMEs need our support more than ever and the value of being part of the #SBS community is immeasurable in upskilling, supporting and motivating some of the brightest startups and small businesses in the UK.  

Our partners lead by example - sharing their unrivalled expertise and leading the way for SMEs to thrive.  Great for them and great for the UK’s bottom line!”

For this year’s annual event #SBSEvent2024, #SBS has joined forces with titans of industry as supporting partners including NatWest Business, Ryman, Robert Dyas, Sum Up, DHL HP, Spring & Autumn Fair and first-time partners FreeAgent and the Department of Business and Trade’s UK Export Academy.  All are experts in their field, who are supporting the #SBS Small Business Sunday network and are committed to helping the UK’s SMEs grow.

With over 1,000 SMEs expected to be in attendance, this year’s annual event will be a day like no other, filled to the brim with must-have advice, workshops and many other opportunities - all for free. The line up of speakers and sessions will be announced in the coming weeks.

Debbie Lewis, Regional EcoSystem Manager at NatWest, said: “As the biggest lender to SMEs in the country, we understand the value of small businesses to the UK economy and the positive impact they make in our towns and communities. We’re committed to removing barriers to enterprise and providing more opportunities for companies to grow and thrive. Our Accelerator programme empowers small business owners to scale their business to the next level, helping entrepreneurs to take their business much further and faster.

“We have a long and proud partnership with #SBS Small Business Sunday and are once again delighted to be involved in this showcase event in February in Birmingham. This is an exciting opportunity to bring like-minded entrepreneurs together and celebrate the impact they make while showcasing to the nation the people behind those businesses, to inspire others to begin their own entrepreneurial journey.”

Laura Jenkins, Director of Small Business Marketing FreeAgent said: “We’re delighted to be partners of #SBSEvent2024. FreeAgent shares the same commitment and passion for helping entrepreneurs and small business owners pursue their dreams and fulfil their potential. From humble beginnings, FreeAgent is now award-winning accounting software helping over 150,000 business owners streamline their admin - leaving them free to focus on more important stuff.”

Sarah Singleton, Marketing Director at Ryman: “Small Business Sunday is an invaluable opportunity for Ryman to connect with a growing and thriving community of small businesses in the UK. The annual #SBSEvent is not just about business transactions; it's about building relationships, fostering growth, and ultimately, contributing to their success. We get to understand the heartbeat of small businesses; engage with these passionate entrepreneurs, listen to their challenges and successes, and ultimately offer guidance and solutions that can truly make a difference in their journeys. It's not just a network; it's a testament to our commitment to the growth and prosperity of small businesses across the UK.”

Sue Beverley – Deputy Head of Events, UK Export Academy: “The UK Export Academy is a free online training programme provided by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), designed to give businesses of all sizes across the UK the confidence and know-how to grow their international sales.  

After launching in 2020, we’ve been busy helping thousands of businesses across the UK. We’re really pleased to be partnering with #SBS, to support even more UK businesses to accelerate their ability to sell their products and services overseas and boost their global growth potential.”

Mary-Jane Rose, PR & Partnership Manager for Robert Dyas: “We’re immensely proud to be partnered with #SBS Small Business Sunday 2024. As one of the leading small business networks in the UK for over a decade, the annual #SBS Event allows Robert Dyas the unique opportunity to connect with and celebrate the achievements of hundreds of small businesses as part of a growing community. We’re always inspired by the stories, determination and passion of the brilliant small businesses and delight in building long lasting relationships within the network.We wouldn’t miss #SBS for the world!

Duncan Heron, VP DHL Express UK said: "We are committed to supporting small businesses with their international trade growth, and our long-standing partnership with #SBS helps us to deliver this. By sharing our expertise and directly engaging with the #SBS community and our small business customers, we help empower them to increase potential profit opportunities. Through our partnership we support small businesses by providing high-quality export services and valuable insight into market changes such as new trade deals."

Nick Davison, Portfolio Director, Spring Fair said, “As the UK’s most trusted event for discovery and innovation across Home, Gift and Fashion, Spring Fair inspires retail’s creators and curators and we have, during our incredibly rewarding 5-year partnership with #SBS, supported over 50 start-up businesses. We love seeing the next generation of businesses come through and are really looking forward to attending the next annual #SBSEvent. Supporting small businesses and new talent is a key part of our events and we know how much our visitors love discovering them too, so we are excited to continue working with #SBS and welcome more inspirational winners to the #SBS Village at Spring Fair 2024.”

The #SBSEvent2024 will take place in Birmingham on 23rd February 2024, at the ICC in Birmingham. It is the 11th event since Theo Paphitis’ #SBS Small Business Sunday launched in 2010, and will be packed full of speakers, #SBS winners, networking and opportunities for the network.