Small Business Saturday – our offer to SMEs
Ahead of Small Business Saturday, you may be thinking about shopping locally to support businesses near you.
In this part of London micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play an especially important role in our economy. Across our boroughs there are around 100,000 businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Only around 55% will make it past 3 years of trading. A huge number will not.
Whilst Small Business Saturday encourages customers to support these companies by shopping locally, we are helping SMEs in our boroughs to safeguard their futures with our free E-business programme. The programme is fully funded which means it is free for business owners, and can help them become more resilient and grow in numerous ways, for example:
- Building a strong online presence.
- Strengthening their business’s cyber-security and data storage.
- Streamlining their processes.
- Enhancing their online marketing and social media.
- Harnessing ecommerce and online payment systems.
1,600 business helped this year and growing!
In the past 12 months the programme has helped over 1,600 micro and small businesses across our boroughs to develop their knowledge and confidence using digital software to make processes more efficient and increase sales.
There have been plenty of opportunities for businesses to learn flexibly: our three providers have held over 15,000 activities, including one-to-one bespoke consultations, group training sessions and events.
Testament to the programme’s success, the Local London e-business programme has recently been granted UK Shared Prosperity Funding, allowing it to operate in all nine of our London boroughs until March 2025.
What local business owners say
“Since joining the Programme I have managed to increase our company’s website visitors by 6,566% – our email marketing engagement by 450% and our social media presence has increased by 1,566% – yes unbelievable, AND its all still increasing!” Mike Cooper, Inspiring Salons Ltd supported by Enterprise Enfield
“I love the attention to detail and hands-on support I get for my business. The team is attentive and takes your business as their own – I highly recommend it to anyone who needs the support and wants to grow.” Fitcredibles, supported by Newham College.
“This support has been invaluable in helping me to understand what is required to prosper and grow. I attended the video workshop and learnt how to make a short film. The video I produced is now used by the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy). I’m grateful for the help I received from SEE, my business has evolved into an expert consultancy practice.” NV Therapy, supported by South East Enterprise.
Find out more about the E-business programme
Watch our video to find out more:
Find the E-business programme near you
We have appointed 3 expert providers to deliver the programme:
Enterprise Enfield: Enfield, Redbridge, Waltham Forest.
Find out more information about Enterprise Enfield
Newham College of Further Education: Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Newham.
Find out more information about Newham College of Further Education
South East Enterprise: Bexley and Greenwich.
Find out more information about South East Enterprise
Related Content
⇒Read more news about the Local London E-business programme.
⇒Find out more about Small Business Saturday UK
About the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund.