A NATIONWIDE roadshow shining a spotlight on small businesses is visiting Bournemouth today (November 22)

The Small Business Saturday Tour team will visit and interview independent businesses across the area, highlighting their “creativity, entrepreneurialism, and contribution” to the local community to a live online audience.

It will include visits to Eat Pho, Head & Wheble funeral directors, strength and conditioning gym, Team CC, and Fantastic Things Emporium.

The visit comes ahead of Small Business Saturday on December 2.

The annual campaign celebrates small businesses and encourages customers to shop local and support traders in their communities.

Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK, said: “We are thrilled to be visiting small businesses in Bournemouth and across the UK, as we count down to Small Business Saturday with this year’s tour.

“This year’s campaign is all about shining a spotlight on the nation’s fantastic small firms and showing them some major love! I encourage all small businesses across the south coast to get involved, whether it is in person or online.”

The Tour is visiting 23 locations throughout November including Brighton, Whitstable, and London.

As the roadshow makes its way around the UK, there will also be opportunities for business owners across Dorset to take part in the campaign’s wider online programme of free business support that will run throughout November.

Virtual workshops and webinars on a range of business topics are being offered each day, as well as free one-to-one mentoring and opportunities for small businesses to tell their stories and network on Small Business Saturday’s social media channels.

A Small Business Happy Hour on Instagram will also take place every week, with giveaways from local businesses all over the country.

Chris Sims, BT’s managing director for Small and Medium Business, said: “Small Business Saturday is a fantastic initiative that empowers entrepreneurs to tackle the biggest challenges they are facing today. This year small businesses can access specialist mentoring and support, giving them tailored guidance on issues ranging from effective marketing to cyber security.”

“As the tour enters its second decade, we are proud to be partnering with Small Business Saturday on this initiative again through our Skills for Tomorrow program, which has helped over one million entrepreneurs grow their small businesses with free digital skills training.”