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How the UK's small businesses received a helping hand

With opportunities to listen to advice and share knowledge, discover how Facebook’s Community Boost event helped more than 1,000 people build their networks

Wednesday 19 December 2018 13:41 GMT

With its billions of global users, Facebook knows better than most of us that networking is the lifeblood of business. That’s why the social media company established its Community Boost programme.

The global platform empowers small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners — and budding entrepreneurs — to start or grow a company by getting together, sharing knowledge, advice, building networks and being inspired.

More than 1,000 attendees did exactly that during two recent days of motivating, insightful and empowering Community Boost events in Westminster.

Encouraging growth

The 38 sessions and nine policy events proved an effective way for SMEs to learn, share and, hopefully, grow.

Panels guided delegates on using Facebook’s free business tools, social media marketing, engaging customers digitally, and exporting overseas.

Helen Smyth, Facebook’s manager of SMB, UK & Ireland, right, says: “Exporting used to be about capital and labour; now it’s about knowledge and technology. A lot of businesses start in someone’s bedroom and, within a couple of years, are exporting to multiple countries and have employed 10-20 people. With technology, you have this opportunity to bring a really fantastic business idea to life.”

Alongside the discussions at the Community Boost event, its partners — the British Chambers of Commerce, Department for International Trade, Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation, AllBright, and Start Up Loans — provided advice on growing a firm globally, accessing funding and business networks.

Connecting and collaborating

Attendees could also get involved with Facebook’s Community Leadership Circles, which get local community leaders to connect, learn and collaborate, as well as Facebook’s Small Business Council programme that empowers its members with resources and education. Business Connect, a collaborative network in the Channel Islands, was also in attendance.

With UK SMBs the backbone of the economy, accounting for 99 per cent of all private sector businesses, and 60 per cent of private sector jobs last year, backing them is crucial, Smyth, left, adds. “It’s hugely important to support that backbone of the economy and we see phenomenal British businesses using our platforms to grow their business both domestically and abroad. That was a key feature of the event.”

Some 57 per cent of SMBs on Facebook in Europe have boosted sales due to the network and about half have hired more employees through growth. So, events such as Community Boost could be a boon for small business.

To learn more about Facebook’s support for small businesses, visit facebook.com/business

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