Last week Simply Business launched The Big Dreams Project, our new pledge to help 10,000 small businesses start or grow by 2030. We know that small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and local communities. Accounting for 60% of employment in the private sector in the UK and 45.9% in the US, they make enormous contributions to national economies. Yet, these business owners face many challenges – from access to finance and navigating red tape to soaring operational costs. The Big Dreams Project will focus on three key priorities: 📣 Campaigning for small business success – standing up for topics small business owners care about and commissioning research to understand their challenges and suggest solutions 📈 Supporting people to develop entrepreneurial skills – working with partners to support people from under-served communities nationwide 🫵 Harnessing the skills and energy of our team – including volunteering with charity partners and directly with small business owners
For Mental Health Awareness Week, we wanted to give SBers extra time to reflect on how we can better support ourselves and others. With the help of our Mental Health Network, we set up a variety of activities giving SBers the opportunity to connect, and also shared events and resources. It was lovely to see so many smiling faces! SBers heard from mental health campaigner Nick Jemetta, and the UK team took part in a grounding yoga session provided for free from our brilliant customers, Tania and Chloe. We also sourced delicious lunches from local small businesses to keep everyone nourished, plus some goodies for giveaways. Thanks to everyone involved!
