Michelle Ovens
Michelle Ovens
Michelle Ovens CBE is founder of Small Business Britain, the UK’s leading champion of UK small businesses. Michelle is also director of Small Business Saturday, a campaign to support, inspire and promote small businesses, on the day and beyond.
How the Maple Review will unlock opportunity for people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds

How the Maple Review will unlock opportunity for people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds

Michelle Ovens
Jul 25 '25
This summer, we launched the Maple Review, which marks a pivotal moment in our efforts to build a truly inclusive entrepreneurial landscape in the UK
Entrepreneurship isn't just about starting a business—it's about starting a new chapter of personal empowerment and transformation, for yourself and others.

Despite entrepreneurial load, female business owners thrive

Michelle Ovens
May 13 '25
Entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business—it’s about starting a new chapter of personal empowerment and transformation, for yourself and others
Disability finance code for entrepreneurship launched to tackle barriers to entrepreneurship

Disability finance code for entrepreneurship launched to tackle barriers to entrepreneurship

Michelle Ovens
Mar 21 '25
The 5.5 million small businesses in the UK are the heart and soul of our nation, and we know their make-up across the country varies a great amount
The 5.5 million small businesses in the UK are the heart and soul of our communities, bringing joy and vibrancy to our lives and local areas, as well as delivering essential local services.

Small Business Saturday showed high public support for small businesses this festive season

Michelle Ovens
Jan 10 '25
The 5.5 million small businesses in the UK are the heart and soul of our communities, bringing joy and vibrancy to our lives and local areas, as well as delivering essential local services
At Small Business Britain, we work with an incredible community of female founders who educate and inspire us every day. However, this is relatively unusual in the business community,

Female founders are optimistic and ambitious—but they need our support to succeed

Michelle Ovens
Oct 2 '24
At Small Business Britain, we work with an incredible community of female founders who educate and inspire us every day. However, this is relatively unusual in the business community…
What small businesses want from the next Government

What small businesses want from the next Government

Michelle Ovens
Jul 1 '24
It is imperative that the next Government puts small businesses at the heart of its strategy for the country, with policies that enable them to drive growth for the UK
Helping microbusinesses to have full opportunity to grow

Helping microbusinesses to have full opportunity to grow

Michelle Ovens
May 10 '24
In all the time I’ve worked with small businesses sole traders and microbusinesses have always stood out as being particularly ripe for growth
UK recession impacts small business confidence

UK recession impacts small business confidence – but we can still inspire optimism for 2024

Michelle Ovens
Mar 13 '24
Last month, we officially learned that the UK entered recession in the latter quarter of 2023—so far hopefully a mild recession, but one that small businesses certainly have felt the effects of
Small businesses needs our activism

Small businesses needs our activism

Michelle Ovens
Jan 19 '24
This winter, another extremely difficult one for small businesses, a much-needed ray of light was shone through the Small Business Saturday campaign as entrepreneurs navigated the end of the year
People will remain at the heart of small businesses–even as AI adoption grows

People will remain at the heart of small businesses—even as AI adoption grows

Michelle Ovens
Nov 16 '23
There is no denying that AI is one of the most important developments to impact the world of business in the last decade
Removing barriers to growth in entrepreneurship

Removing barriers to growth in entrepreneurship

Michelle Ovens
Oct 9 '23
Over the course of the last decade, I have worked with and been witness to hundreds of thousands of businesses, and one thing I can say for sure: it is a rewarding journey, but also bumpy, challenging, and often overwhelming too
How do small businesses feel about the future

How do small businesses feel about the future?

Michelle Ovens
Sep 26 '23
Small businesses are powering through another demanding year. The cost-of-living crisis accompanying the rise of inflation, particularly increases in the cost of goods, services, and energy, are just a few examples of the obstacles thrown at small firms