Local companies and business leaders gathered in Hambleton this week, to wave off a bus which will travel the country promoting the Small Business Saturday campaign.
A bus which will be travelling up and down the country mentoring small businesses, set off from Ingleby Cross near Northallerton recently. The bus is representing the Small Business Saturday campaign, an independent grassroots initiative.
The vehicle’s livery was designed, created and applied by a small business in North Yorkshire.
On Wednesday, October 24 the bus was ready to set off on the tour – and received a ceremonial send-off.
A ribbon was cut by Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council. David Hinde, official town crier of the Yorkshire Society and star of the Dad’s Army film, performed at the event.
Local small business owners from Catch Design Northallerton, The Rusty Bike Café in Swainby, new Ingleby Cross start up Crafts Uniquey and Helmsley-based Porters Coffee shop, also celebrated the send-off at Blue Bell Inn in Ingleby Cross alongside Atkinsons Coach Company staff.
Leader of North Yorkshire County Council Cllr Carl Les, Cllr Peter Wilkinson of Hambleton District Council, David Kerfoot, chair of York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership and Julie Hutton, economic development manager at Hambleton District Council also joined in the celebration, as well as residents of Ingleby Cross and representatives from the parish council.
Hambleton District Councillor Peter Wilkinson said: “The majority of Hambleton’s businesses are small or micro in size – but they are key to the district’s economy.
“It is vital that we support Small Business Saturday and showcase what diverse businesses operate here.”
The Small Business Saturday bus tour officially kicked off in Blackburn on Thursday, October 25, embarking on its five week journey up and down the country, offering free mentoring to small businesses, ahead of Small Business Saturday on December 1.
The Federation of Small Businesses is a big supporter of the independent grassroots Small Business Saturday campaign, which is now in its sixth year.
FSB development manager for North Yorkshire, Carolyn Frank, said: “It was excellent that the tour bus has been once again created here in North Yorkshire, reflecting the business community’s local ingenuity. Stopping off in Ingleby Cross ahead of its grand tour, we were able to celebrate the great and hard-working small businesses based across Yorkshire.”
Michelle Ovens MBE, director of Small Business Saturday, said: “It was a wonderful occasion in North Yorkshire to celebrate the launch of this year’s Small Business Saturday bus tour.
“Travelling around to local communities is vital to promoting the work of small businesses, and we are incredibly thankful of the true Yorkshire sendoff we received in Ingleby Cross, before embarking on our nationwide tour.
“There are hundreds of towns and villages like Ingleby Cross across the country that are full of small businesses that are working hard each day to help make their communities even better, and we want to ensure they get the well-deserved recognition.”
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