There are more than five and a half million small businesses in the UK, and together they make up 99.2% of the total business population. From florists and candle shops to butchers and jewellery/fashion stores, small businesses are the lifeblood of our high streets, and they play an important part in creating thriving local communities. Here in the North East, we have over 60,000 small businesses.
Small Business Saturday - 06 December 2025
Every year, the first Saturday in December is a day where small businesses in the North East, and all over the UK, have their moment in the spotlight. Small Business Saturday (06 December) is an annual campaign that celebrates the country’s small businesses. It's a day where people across the country are encouraged to show their support for small businesses by spending and shopping small, and helping spread the word.
To support this year’s Small Business Saturday, we visited some of the companies and business owners we’ve helped to find out from them why small businesses are so important, and how we can all help them thrive. This is the first in a series of articles we’ll be publishing ahead of Small Business Saturday on 06 December. Don’t forget to visit our LinkedIn page to hear directly from the businesses themselves in the run up to Saturday 06 December.
Celebrating the North East’s small businesses
Kathryn Nicholson is the joint owner of Nicholson’s Butchers, an award-winning, fourth generation family butchers on Park View in Whitley Bay. Kathryn is the first female to run her family’s butchery business, and under her leadership, the business has doubled its turnover in the last six years.
“I love being on the high street. We’re a massive part of people’s community. And we’ve got a great relationship with all the other businesses here - it’s like a family. We’ve literally got a butcher, a baker, and a candlestick maker!”
“It’s really important for people to support small businesses because we create vibrant high streets that people want to come to and spend time in. We’re also a really important part of the local economy because we create jobs, and for us, that means we have the next generation of butchers here in the North East.
“Our high street is a community. If one of our customers hasn't been in the shop for three days, we’d want to know if they were ok. That for me is why small high street businesses are important. We can all look after and support each other.
“People can help small businesses thrive across the North East by coming to see us, by spreading the word about how fabulous small businesses and local high streets are, and by getting on board with initiatives like Small Business Saturday so that more people support their local high streets.”
Gayle Foster is the founder of vintage jewellery and fashion store, Vintage at the Tower, which is located on Hill Street in Corbridge. The fashion designer and interior design specialist opened the store in 2013, and has grown the business into a successful high street and online business. Gayle is a well known ambassador for local high streets, and in 2025 she was named ‘High Street Hero’ at The Small Awards, an event delivered by the organisers of Small Business Saturday. She also champions sustainability and is committed to reducing her business’s carbon footprint by working with and supporting local companies.
“There are over five million small businesses in the UK, and we’re the backbone of industry in this country. If you support your local high street, you’re not just supporting one individual shop, you’re supporting the whole community of small businesses. Everything that we do feeds into the wider economy and success of the region.
“I was absolutely thrilled to be named this year’s High Street Hero by Small Business Britain. It’s an award that recognises a shop that isn’t just the best on the high street, but one that also helps and supports the local community. It’s given us a real boost, but also validation for the last 12 years of hard work.
“For small businesses to succeed and thrive, people just have to get behind us. There’s the old saying, ‘use it or lose it’. If you don’t use your local shops, they might not be here this time next year. What you get from a small business is that personal touch. You can’t go online and appreciate the quality of a crystal glass or feel the softness of a cashmere jumper.
“My message would be, get out there. You won’t believe what’s on your doorstep. Support local and shop local.”
How you can support Small Business Saturday
Whilst Small Business Saturday is celebrated on the first Saturday of December each year, it’s also a year-round national movement spotlighting small businesses that make a big difference to our communities and economy.
You can support Small Business Saturday by:
- Shopping local when you can.
Spreading the word about your favourite small businesses and helping people discover them. - Taking part in initiatives like Small Business Saturday that help small businesses thrive.
If you’d like to help people discover your favourite small businesses in the North East, use the hashtag #SmallBizSatUK on social media or tag the North East Growth Hub on X and LinkedIn.