On Monday 2 December, Jignesh Madhavji, Bolton resident and owner of the mobile barber shop Gigi, attended a special reception at the House of Lords.
This was done as part of preparations for Small Business Saturday, which will be held today, Saturday 7 December, to encourage the public to support businesses.
The event, hosted by Small Business Saturday in collaboration with American Express, highlighted Jiggi Mobile Barber Shop as one of the “SmallBiz100.”
This is a list of 100 small businesses across the UK who have been recognized for their achievements.
Jiggi mobile barbershop has reached the final of this year's Small New Business category in its first 18 months of trading, being recognized for its “inspiring entrepreneurial spirit”.
Mr Madhavji said: “I was delighted to learn that my business has been recognized as one of the most inspiring businesses in the UK this year.
“I think the fundamentals were believing in our business model, being consistent, and not being afraid to be different in business.”
The reception at the House of Lords was attended by small business owners and MPs from across the UK and was the first in a week of celebrations leading up to Small Business Saturday.
Minister for Small Business Gareth Thomas MP also attended the event and met with a number of entrepreneurs.
Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK, said: “Small businesses like Jiggi Mobile Barbers provide incredible value to local communities and the economy as a whole, so in the House of Lords we recognized their contribution. It's great to be able to celebrate.”
A non-profit campaign, Small Business Saturday was first established by American Express in the US in 2010 and aims to encourage consumers to support small businesses.
The campaign has been running in the UK for more than a decade, with “millions of people” showing their support for small businesses on the day and “billions of pounds” being spent on them.
Dan Edelman, general manager of U.K. merchant services at American Express, said: “As we approach the holiday season, it is encouraging to see that public support for small businesses remains strong.
“Small Business Saturday is still as important a campaign as it was when it first started.
“That's why American Express is proud to be a key supporter of beloved independent businesses and encouraging people to spend less.”
Small Business Saturday encourages people across the UK to support small businesses of all kinds, whether online, in the office or in store.
This includes independent stores, restaurants, small services, and B2B businesses such as accountants and plumbers.
Many businesses celebrate this day by hosting events, offering promotions, and even collaborating with other small businesses.
As the campaign continues to grow, the importance of public support for small businesses continues to be emphasized.
Mr Ovens said: “Public support is absolutely essential for small businesses across the UK, so I'm calling on everyone across the UK to support small businesses on Small Business Saturday and beyond.”