Small Business Britain
Small Business Britain is a UK non-profit, founded in 2015 by Michelle Ovens CBE, that delivers free training programmes, mentorship, networking events, research reports, and awards to the UK's 5.7 million small businesses, funded by corporate sponsors including BT, eBay, Starling Bank, Lloyds, and American Express.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Small Business Britain does
Small Business Britain is a UK non-profit founded in 2015 by Michelle Ovens CBE and headquartered at Somerset House, Strand, London. It positions itself as the UK's leading champion of small businesses, serving the country's 5.7 million small business owners through campaigns, events, training programmes, research reports, and its Small Business Institute knowledge hub. Core offerings include CPD-accredited multi-week programmes (Small & Mighty, Side Hustle Lab, Female Founder Fundamentals, Master Your Money Grow Your Business, Green Growth Programme, BT Sustainability for Small Business, Adobe Express Marketing School, Cyber for Small Business, Mentoring Programme, People for Business), in-person Netwalk networking events, awards programmes (The Small Awards, Green Growth Awards), and research outputs (How To Recover, How To Start & Restart, Sustainability Basics Research, Small Business Green Growth, The Willow Review).
The organization runs on an online learning management platform with private workshop portals, magic-link authentication, recorded video content, and built-in community features, distributed alongside in-person Netwalk events across the UK. All programmes are offered free of charge to small business participants. Funding comes from a concentrated pool of corporate sponsors — American Express, Starling Bank, eBay, BT, Lloyds Bank, Lloyds Bank Academy, Adobe Express, Xero, Indeed, Intact Insurance, ARU Peterborough — plus occasional government support such as the Department for Business and Trade's involvement in The Great British Pitch. The organization also partners with Oxford Brookes Business School on sustainability research.
Customers are exclusively UK-based and segmented into personas (UK Small Businesses as the primary segment, plus Female Founders, Side Hustlers, and Sole Traders/Micro Businesses as secondary segments). Marketing runs through a website hub, Instagram (@BritainSmallBiz), YouTube for recorded workshops, Constant Contact email newsletters, and event-driven webinars. Strategic priorities center on inclusivity, underrepresented groups, and sustainability-led growth, evidenced by the Green Growth 100 list and Green Growth Awards.
Small Business Britain firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Small Business Britain
- Legal name
- Small Business Britain
- Website
- https://smallbusinessbritain.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Small Business Britain is a UK non-profit, founded in 2015 by Michelle Ovens CBE, that delivers free training programmes, mentorship, networking events, research reports, and awards to the UK's 5.7 million small businesses, funded by corporate sponsors including BT, eBay, Starling Bank, Lloyds, and American Express.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Small Business Britain industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Business Support Services
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
Keywords
Where Small Business Britain is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Small Business Britain business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Corporate Sponsorships: Small Business Britain operates as a non-profit champion organization funded by corporate sponsors including American Express, Starling Bank, eBay, Lloyds, BT, Xero, Adobe Express, Indeed, Intact Insurance, and ARU Peterborough. Sponsors fund specific programs and receive brand visibility.
- Government and Institutional Support: The organization receives support from government bodies including the Department for Business and Trade for initiatives like The Great British Pitch export program.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Programs - All training, workshops, and mentorship programs are offered at no cost to small business participants |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Small Business Britain product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Small Business Britain is a UK non-profit that delivers free, sponsored training programmes, mentorship, networking events (Netwalks), awards, research reports, and educational resources to support the country's 5.7 million small businesses and entrepreneurs. Offerings are structured into multi-week CPD-accredited programmes (e.g. Small & Mighty, Side Hustle Lab, Female Founder Fundamentals, Green Growth Programme, Adobe Express Marketing School), in-person and online events, and a knowledge hub (Small Business Institute), all funded through corporate sponsorships.
Product overview
Small Business Britain operates as a programmes and resources platform rather than a single product. The portfolio comprises multiple distinct training programmes (Small & Mighty, Side Hustle Lab, Female Founder Fundamentals, Master Your Money Grow Your Business, Green Growth Programme, BT Sustainability for Small Business, Adobe Express Marketing School, Cyber for Small Business, Mentoring Programme), networking events (Netwalks), award programmes (Green Growth Awards), educational resources (How To Guides, Side Hustle to Main Hustle), and a knowledge hub (Small Business Institute). These offerings are delivered independently with various corporate partners including eBay, Starling Bank, Lloyds Bank Academy, BT, Adobe, and Indeed.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 67% of SMEs who benefit financially from sustainability report reduced operational costs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Small Business Britain
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Small Business Britain technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Small Business Britain partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- eBaycoreeBay partners with Small Business Britain on the Side Hustle Lab program, a free 6-week webinar series for UK small business sellers. The partnership supports entrepreneurs in growing their eBay businesses by covering finance, marketing, operations, exporting, live commerce, and AI. eBay also sponsors the Side Hustle to Main Hustle initiative.
- Starling BankcoreStarling Bank partnered with Small Business Britain to offer training programs aimed at female founders. The initiative focuses on supporting women entrepreneurs through collaborative efforts. Starling Bank also sponsored research on digital financial tools for UK SMEs.
- BT (British Telecom)coreBT partners with Small Business Britain on multiple programs including Netwalks (walking networking events), Green Growth Programme (sustainability training), Cyber for Small Business (cybersecurity training), and BT Sustainability for Small Business. BT's Skills For Tomorrow initiative supports these programs.
- Lloyds Bank AcademycoreLloyds Bank Academy partnered with Small Business Britain to deliver the Master Your Money, Grow Your Business program - a free six-week course helping small businesses with financial organization and digital skills.
- American ExpressminorAmerican Express is listed as a sponsor of Small Business Britain, providing support for programs and initiatives.
- XerominorXero sponsored the Small & Mighty Enterprise Programme which helped grow sole traders and micro businesses through expert guidance and mentoring.
- Adobe ExpresscoreAdobe Express partnered with Small Business Britain on the Adobe Express Marketing School, a free 6-week online program helping small businesses with marketing content creation using Adobe Express tools.
- IndeedcoreIndeed partnered with Small Business Britain on the People for Business program helping small businesses with hiring. Indeed offers £100 free sponsored credit to Small Business Britain community members.
- ARU Peterborough (Anglia Ruskin University)minorARU Peterborough partnered with Small Business Britain on the Small & Mighty programme supporting sole traders and micro businesses.
- Intact InsuranceminorIntact Insurance is listed as a sponsor of Small Business Britain.
- TSB BankminorTSB supported Small Business Britain's How To Start & Restart and How To Recover research reports focused on business recovery and skills development.
- Oxford Brookes Business SchoolcoreOxford Brookes Business School partnered with Small Business Britain on sustainability research including the Sustainability Basics Research and Small Business, Green Growth reports, providing academic rigor to findings.
- Department for Business and TradecoreThe UK government department, led by Small Business Britain and supported by BT, hosted The Great British Pitch to boost export confidence among small businesses. The event generated strong international interest and led to new export programs.
- FinTech NorthminorStarling Bank partnered with FinTech North to increase engagement in the region, with Small Business Britain also involved in related initiatives.
- Small Business InstitutecoreThe Small Business Institute is the knowledge and capability hub run by Small Business Britain, providing training, research, and policy support for the small business community.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Small Business Britain competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SCORE: US non-profit providing free mentoring, education, and resources to small businesses through a volunteer network. Most established international analogue of the Small Business Britain model, though US-focused.
- Enterprise Nation: UK-based SMB support community offering free training, networking, and resources to small businesses and founders. Most directly comparable peer in mission, audience, and program-based delivery model.
- Be the Business: UK non-profit focused on improving SME productivity through peer networks, mentoring, and programs. Highly comparable model of corporate-funded free programs targeting UK SMB capability-building.
- B Lab UK: UK arm of the B Corp movement certifying and supporting purpose-led businesses. Comparable mission focus on sustainable/small businesses with community, awards, and partner-funded programs.
- Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): UK membership organization representing and campaigning for small businesses, providing advice, networking, and policy advocacy. Comparable in mission to champion and support the UK SMB constituency.
- Startup Coalition (formerly Coadec): UK advocacy and community organization supporting early-stage startups and founders through policy engagement, events, and resources. Comparable as a non-equity, mission-driven SMB/founder support organization.
Broad incumbents
- British Chambers of Commerce: UK-wide network of accredited chambers providing business support, training, and policy representation. Broader incumbent with overlapping SMB training and policy advocacy mandate.
- Small Business Administration (SBA): US federal agency providing training, counseling, and advocacy for small businesses. Public-sector analogue of the SMB champion and support mission Small Business Britain performs in the UK.
Others
- NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator (formerly Entrepreneurial Spark): Bank-run hub and accelerator program supporting UK entrepreneurs with free workspace, mentoring, and masterclasses. Adjacent — illustrates bank-incumbent model that competes for the same SMB education budget pool.
- Lloyds Bank Academy: Bank-operated free SMB training platform — concurrently a partner of Small Business Britain and a potential competitor as banks expand in-house SMB education. Relevant as both funder and adjacency.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses2 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Small Business Britain social profiles
Digital presenceSmall Business Britain financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Small Business Britain leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Small Business Britain funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Small Business Britain M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Small Business Britain
What does Small Business Britain do?
Small Business Britain is a UK non-profit that delivers free, sponsored training programmes, mentorship, networking events (Netwalks), awards, research reports, and educational resources to support the country's 5.7 million small businesses and entrepreneurs. Offerings are structured into multi-week CPD-accredited programmes (e.g. Small & Mighty, Side Hustle Lab, Female Founder Fundamentals, Green Growth Programme, Adobe Express Marketing School), in-person and online events, and a knowledge hub (Small Business Institute), all funded through corporate sponsorships.
Is Small Business Britain a public or private company?
Small Business Britain is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Small Business Britain founded?
Small Business Britain was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Small Business Britain based?
Small Business Britain is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Small Business Britain make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Corporate Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are government and Institutional Support.
Who are Small Business Britain's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SCORE, Enterprise Nation, Be the Business, B Lab UK, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and Startup Coalition (formerly Coadec). Broad incumbents are British Chambers of Commerce and Small Business Administration (SBA). Others are NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator (formerly Entrepreneurial Spark) and Lloyds Bank Academy.
Does Small Business Britain have an API?
No public API is recorded for Small Business Britain.
What industry is Small Business Britain in?
Small Business Britain's product category is Small Business Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAFAK, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAM, Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs. Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8200.