The Royal Family have shone a light on sole traders as part of Small Business Saturday, which highlights the success of local organisations.
The event encourages the nation to show its support for independent firms by “spending locally and shopping small”.
Sharing a message on social media, the Royal Family noted the excellent work sole traders do at Buckingham Palace.
The royals’ Instagram story read: “To mark Small Business Saturday, we’re saying thank you to the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) behind the Buckingham Palace Reservicing Programme.
“Over 220 sole traders and SMEs have helped replace essential services at the Palace.”
The Royal Family highlighted the work of: “Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, steel workers, art handlers, demolition specialists, architects, lead roofers, plasterers, stonemasons.”
They continued: “Their work ensures Buckingham Palace is fit for future generations to enjoy.”
Small businesses in the UK employ 60 per cent of the UK workforce and generate £2.8trillion in turnover.
The Royal Family highlighted the work of SMEs on Instagram
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INSTAGRAM / ROYALFAMILY
New data shows that supporting SMEs during the festive period could deliver a £5billion boost.
The Government has launched the “Backing Your Business” campaign to help SMEs get what they require to succeed.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: “This country is home to some of the brightest entrepreneurs and innovative businesses in the world, and our Small Business Plan is a key driver to accelerating that potential.
“This Small Business Saturday is a great chance to get out to your local high streets and support small businesses.
Labour MP Peter Kyle said: ‘This country is home to some of the brightest entrepreneurs and innovative businesses in the world’
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PA
“Whether it’s your local shop, tradesperson, or high street retailer, these are the people who work day and night and power our communities and our economy.”
Director of Small Business Saturday UK, Michelle Ovens CBE, explained the benefits SMEs bring to society.
She said: “Small businesses are the nation’s favourite businesses and they are essential to both their communities and the whole economy.
“Indeed, our research with American Express found 95 per cent of people feel small businesses add value to local areas and 84 per cent believe the nation needs to support them.
Over 220 sole traders and SMEs have helped replace essential services at the Palace
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INSTAGRAM / ROYALFAMILY
“At this crucial time of year for many small firms, it is vital that the nation remembers their favourite small businesses and goes out to support them this Small Business Saturday and beyond.”
Should small businesses grow by only one per cent in the UK, they could add £320billion to the economy by 2030.
Minister for Small Business, Blair McDougall, said: “We are celebrating Small Business Saturday, which is a fantastic opportunity not just to celebrate small businesses and what they contribute to our local communities, but also importantly to support them by visiting them and reacquainting ourselves perhaps, with businesses that we should go to a little bit more often.
“I think it’s really important when you run a small business, often you are on your own, or maybe there’s only a handful of you in the business. You can feel forgotten and isolated a lot of the time. It is hard running a small business.”
Speaking ahead of Small Business Saturday, Mr McDougall said he is “looking forward to it” and described small businesses as a “feature” of a community.