Small Business Features

Chances are, if you follow business news at all (and we assume you do if you’re reading this platform!) you will have heard a lot about Brewdog in the last couple of weeks. 

Without rehashing the whole situation, here’s an executive summary: dozens of former employees signed an open letter accusing the craft beer firm and its co-founder James Watt of fostering a “culture of fear.” Ex-staff members claim they were bullied, treated like objects, and that the company’s culture was “toxic.” You can read more in this excellent piece by Kalyeena Makortoff and Rob Davies for The Guardian.  But following this sage got me thinking: what is this “culture” thing we hear so much about, why does it matter, and how does it pertain to small business owners? 

It’s business and self employed 1:01. You’ve said it about them; they’ve said it about you. Well, maybe we just said it to ourselves, murmuring slightly with an un-noticed eye roll, or have at least thought, “Just get to the damn point already!”

In challenging times, innovative solutions are called for. And for three local entrepreneurs from Leicester, the pandemic inspired them to come up with a creative way to support local restaurants and food businesses. 

Thomas Edde, Ali Datoo, and George Martin founded eKitchenette, an app that combines influencer marketing and online ordering to build a trusted community of food business owners, influencers, and consumers. I met Thomas via Zoom this week to learn more about the business and the team’s journey so far.

Multi award-winning Deaf performance artist Vilma Jackson has launched a new chat show featuring an all-star selection of Deaf panellists. The first episode of The Vilma Jackson Show was released on 11 March, and the second will follow soon. Episode 1 showcases the wide array of talent that exists within the Deaf community and the barriers Deaf people face, while the second will address the wider debate around diversity, inclusion, and equality as they apply to the Deaf community.

Talking about mental health and struggles can be challenging, and this is often particularly true for men. Unfortunately, we live in a culture that does not encourage men to open up about their feelings.  But one man is on a mission to change that. As we mark the one year anniversary of lockdown this week, editor Marc chatted with Kenny Mammarella D’Cruz, also known as The Man Whisperer, about his vital work in the area of men’s mental health.

Founder Anneka Hicks has stepped down from Excluded UK to create a new venture dedicated to tackling the mental health fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here she tells us why she’s stepped down from the group she founded, the toll it’s taken on her personally and fighting for the 3 Million self-employed and small business owners excluded from financial help from the UK Government.

BBR started life in 2017 with a Facebook group, but its origins can be traced all the way back to 1985 when Huw walked around the streets of London amassing data on over 2,000 Black-owned businesses. This information became the UK’s first Black Business Directory. 

Paul Scully MP, Minister with responsibility for Small Business talks to Steven Mather about funding, who they’re really talking about when it comes to small business and what their position is on the 3million small business owners currently excluded from the Government support during the Pandemic.

Best Selling Author of ‘Rise of the Youpreneur’, International Entrepreneur and Podcast Host, Chris Ducker talks to us about future proofing your business, Clubhouse and what to expect coming out of Lockdown
Read/Watch/Listen to the full interview only at YBKBS Small Business News for Smart Business Owners

The Self Employed and Small Business Owners are an innovative, creative, and tenacious bunch. We’ve heard from numerous businesses about the ways they’re rising to the challenge and adapting to survive and thrive. For that reason, we wanted to bring you some positive and uplifting small business stories to inspire you as we start to consider life beyond COVID-19.