Small Business Britain

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.

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

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

• Small business support
• Entrepreneur training
• Business mentoring programs
• Small business advocacy
• Networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• eBaycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2026eBay 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 BankcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 November 2025Starling 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)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBT 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 AcademycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLloyds 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 ExpressminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmerican Express is listed as a sponsor of Small Business Britain, providing support for programs and initiatives.
• XerominorGTM or Marketing PartnerXero sponsored the Small & Mighty Enterprise Programme which helped grow sole traders and micro businesses through expert guidance and mentoring.
• Adobe ExpresscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdobe 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.
• IndeedcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIndeed 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)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerARU Peterborough partnered with Small Business Britain on the Small & Mighty programme supporting sole traders and micro businesses.
• Intact InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIntact Insurance is listed as a sponsor of Small Business Britain.
• TSB BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTSB 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 SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxford 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 TradecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 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 NorthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStarling Bank partnered with FinTech North to increase engagement in the region, with Small Business Britain also involved in related initiatives.
• Small Business InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 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

Direct 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

• Instagraminstagram.com/BritainSmallBiz
• Facebookfacebook.com/smallbusinessbritain
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smallbusinessbritain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Small Business Britain