On Saturday 7 December, small businesses here in the North East, as well as those up and down the country, will be encouraging customers to shop local and support local companies as part of Small Business Saturday.

The UK’s most successful small business campaign, Small Business Saturday has been running for eleven years, and each December it encourages customers to go out and support all types of small businesses - from independent shops and restaurants, to small service and b2b-
based businesses like accountants and digital marketeers.

Here at the North East Growth Hub we support the region’s small businesses everyday, helping them access free, expert advice, as well as business support programmes and finance and funding to help them grow. 

To celebrate Small Business Saturday on 7 December, we spoke to some of the companies we’ve worked with to find out how the North East Growth Hub has helped them grow, and why people should champion the region’s small business community.

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Melanie Anderson, co-founder, Background Sounds Ltd

Background Sounds is an online royalty-free music streaming platform for businesses that want to play great music without the expense of a PRS PPL music licence.

What support have you received from the North East Growth Hub, and how it has helped your business grow?
My Business Support Advisor, Karen Berry, is superb; taking the time on our first call to fully understand my business, the problem it solves, and my priorities as a business owner. As a result, I’ve received insightful ongoing support and recommendations, and expert guidance on key areas related to growing the business.

Why should other SMEs in the region contact the North East Growth Hub for support?
The North East Growth Hub provides a one-stop-shop for business owners. If you want to save yourself hours trying to find out what support, expertise and funding is available in the region, get in touch with them. You’ll receive top-notch tailored advice and guidance designed to help accelerate your business growth.

Why should people in the region support small businesses?
By supporting small businesses in your local area you’re personally investing in the future of the region. Helping small businesses to grow ensures economic growth and the development of wide-ranging opportunities right now, and for future generations to come.

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Kathryn Meadows, Joint Owner, Nicholsons Butchers

Established in 1914, Nicholsons Butchers is a run by Kathryn Meadows – the first female to run the business and the 4th generation of the Nicholson family. The butchers offers all the traditional cuts you would expect, along with a variety of other products including homemade pies, ready meals, and fresh fruit and vegetables.

What support have you received from the North East Growth Hub, and how it has helped your business grow?
We received a grant through the Made Smarter programme to innovate the bakery aspect of the business; introducing a new oven that enables steaming and controlled timing, which has helped to open up new areas for us to research and develop.

Why should other SMEs in the region contact the North East Growth Hub for support?
The people that work for the North East Growth Hub are an incredibly helpful team with vast experience in all aspects of business. They are able to provide support and guidance for any business need.

Why should people in the region support small businesses?
Small businesses strengthen local economies by creating jobs and circulating wealth locally. They encourage innovation and unique products, and build stronger communities with personalised customer service. Small businesses reduce environmental impacts through the use of sustainable practices, and enhance customers’ experiences by building relationships and support networks.

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Gillian Hauxwell, co-founder of Strong Point Games

Strong Point Games is an independent board game design and publishing company established in 2021 by co-founders Gillian Hauxwell and Simon Evans. The company published its first game (Strong Point: A Trivia Game) in 2021, and in December it will be releasing the first expansion pack to go with the game - Stronger Point: Expansion One.

What support have you received from the North East Growth Hub, and how it has helped your business grow?
We were introduced to the North East Growth Hub in 2023, and the connections we have made have been invaluable and an integral part of our success over the last 18 months. Our Business Support Adviser, Karen, has kept us up-to-date with funding and grant applications that may be beneficial to us. She even bought Strong Point herself to play with her family last Christmas and I’m delighted to say they thoroughly enjoyed it!

Why should other SMEs in the region contact the North East Growth Hub for support?
The North East Growth Hub is a great service to access because they have such a wide range of support available, as well as a great network of contacts they can connect your business to. As a small business it is sometimes difficult to keep on top of all the challenges that you face, and often you don’t have the time or resources to learn all of the things that you don’t know you don’t know! The North East Growth Hub is a great tool to help you reach out for support and prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.

Why should people in the region support small businesses?
Small businesses are the lifeblood of local communities, and it is hugely important that local people learn about those small businesses in their community and support them. When you shop at a local business you are helping that business survive - sometimes against the odds. You are helping the people in that small business to pay their bills, not their shareholders.

You can hear from other small businesses we've supported further down the page... 

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How to support Small Business Saturday

If you’re a small business, you can support Small Business Saturday by:

• Registering and advertising your business on the Small Business Saturday Small Business Finder.
   
• Highlighting the value of local businesses on social media. Tag Small Business Saturday in your posts and use hashtag #SmallBizSatUK. There’s a free Marketing Toolkit you can access with lots of useful content.
   
• Shining a spotlight on the local small business economy by engaging with your local media.
   
• Taking part in the free online opportunities for small business owners in the run up to Small Business Saturday. Find more information at smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com.

If you’re a customer / member of the public, you can support Small Business Saturday by:  

• Using Small Business Saturday’s Small Business Finder to find small businesses near you.
   
• Posting photos of you supporting your local businesses on social media using hashtag #SmallBizSatUK.

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Philip Lauder, founder, The Donut Lab

The Donut Lab is a local donut business producing handcrafting delicious treats from scratch. Passionate about using high-quality ingredients and experimenting with new flavours, its donuts are available at various locations across the North East – including pop up markets and events.

What support have you received from the North East Growth Hub, and how it has helped your business grow?
The North East Growth Hub has been instrumental in helping us grow our business. Their expert advice and guidance has been invaluable, allowing us to refine our strategy and identify new opportunities.

Why should other SMEs in the region contact the North East Growth Hub for support?
I highly recommend the North East Growth Hub to other small businesses. Their support has been crucial in our journey, and I'm confident they can help other businesses thrive.

Why should people in the region support small businesses?
By supporting them, you're not only enjoying unique products and services, but also contributing to local economic growth and job creation.

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Tricia Scott, founder and editor-in-chief, The Female CEO

The Female CEO aims to empower, inspire, and connect women at all stages of their business journey – from startups to corporate leaders and established entrepreneurs. Its mission is to create a supportive and inclusive community where women can share their stories, celebrate their successes, and access the tools they need to thrive.

What support have you received from the North East Growth Hub, and how it has helped your business grow? 
I was introduced to Business Support Adviser, Dawn, via the North East Chamber of Commerce, and from the very first conversation it was all action. Not only is Dawn an absolute goldmine of advice, she has also made a fabulous array of introductions to other like-minded business owners and collaborators. Not only is this useful to the business, but it has been a fantastic boost for me as a small business owner to meet others in the region and forge strategic connections.

Why should other SMEs in the region contact the North East Growth Hub for support?
It's easy to become isolated as a small business owner and stuck in certain ways of thinking. Meeting others with a broader and different perspective can be the exact shift you need to kick-start new growth and opportunities, and that's exactly how it was for me. Hearing positive feedback and new ideas from the North East Growth Hub incentivised me to look at parts of our outreach differently, and forge new plans and ideas. The connections we've made since have been second to none, and the effects continue to drive the business forward in new and exciting directions.

Why should people in the region support small businesses?
Supporting small businesses isn't just a nice idea – it's a power move for your community. Small companies create stronger, more resilient neighbourhoods by fostering local connections, driving innovation, and supporting local jobs. Every purchase, share, or recommendation helps to keep money circulating within the community, fuelling growth and stability. When you support small businesses, you're not just buying a product or service – you're helping to build a thriving, vibrant local economy.

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If you’d like to access free, expert help and support to grow your small business, book an appointment to speak to one of our expert Business Support Advisers, and find out what business support and finance and funding is available to you.