Grimsby small business leaders gather for Amazon and Small Business Britain event aimed at tackling cost-of-living

Michelle Ovens CBE, founder of Small Business Britain, said: “It isn’t easy for small businesses at the moment – they are facing challenges from all angles due to the cost-of-living crisis, and this comes on the back of an extremely tough period in the pandemic.”

Entrepreneurs in attendance included Ruchita Green, of Masala Masters, and Rachel Harvey owner of The Paint Box. Helen Watson, owner of The Soap Shack, said: “Businesses are facing major challenges. The energy price crisis is one thing, but it’s also vital to find where you fit within your sector, and get support from other businesses within your niche who understand your needs.”

The meeting is part of a series with similar events in London and Edinburgh. Amazon and Small Business Britain are also offering free business mentoring to 50 entrepreneurs, providing one-on-one support tailored to individual business owners.

Duaa Basheer, head of small business empowerment at Amazon in the UK, said: “We have more than 85,000 small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the UK selling on Amazon.

“We help them grow their businesses by reaching millions of customers online around the world, but lots of these companies are telling us they need more help to navigate the cost-focused challenges ahead. These events gather some immensely valuable insights that we are excited about exploring through future programmes.”