Small Business Saturday Blog

ACCA on board the Small Business Saturday Bus Tour

Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 14:46

Small Business Saturday toured the UK once again this yearwith its iconic big blue Bus Tour. Starting in Dundee and finishing inBrighton, the tour took in 29 locations around the UK. Launched for the firsttime this year was the Small Business Saturday mentoring programme on the bus,offering free business mentoring to small businesses at every stop. As part ofits support of Small Business Saturday, the business experts ACCA sent theirsmall business members to the bus to provide free advice to local businesses –and it could not have been more of a success!
From Birmingham to Cardiff, Edinburgh to London, Lowestoft to Leicester, ACCA accountants joined the Tour to meet local businesses and share their advice and wisdom, all with a view to helping these businesses thrive in 2018 and beyond.
Tour Director, Tom Flynn, said about the mentors, “It wasfantastic to have experts with strong local links, that also brought thereassurance of a strong recognisable global brand – this is why the ACCAmentors worked very well. The mentors were fantastic with a great attitude,they were helpful, positive and constructive, helping out other mentors as wellas jumping in with ad hoc help and advice where needed.”
Of the mentees themselves, Tom said, “We had a real range –some businesses in their infancy through to well developed, well establishedbusinesses that were looking for a new direction or had new ideas they wantedto talk through with someone. The feedback from the businesses was all positivewith many getting in touch afterwards to say what a huge boost it had been forthem and they absolutely intend to continue the relationship with the mentor.”
Small Business Saturday launched the programme this year inresponse to feedback from small businesses on what they felt was missinglocally and where they wanted help. The programme will continue into 2018 andthe campaign encourages all communities to develop their own mentoringprogrammes, so experienced small businesses can pass that knowledge ontoothers, making communities stronger across the UK.
The tour was also joined by ACCA Head of SME Policy, Ben Baruch:
In Cardiff, Small Business Saturday was joined by JamesSlatter, ACCA member, and Lloyd Powell, Head of ACCA Wales.
Watch the video 
Joining the tour in London, Shakar Elahi provided smallbusiness help and advice, and spoke to Director Michelle Ovens here
Watch the Video 
For more information on ACCA and to find a local qualified ACCA accountant  click here 

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