Save the Date! Championing Small Business in the UK: A Fireside Chat with Small Business Britain

[tranguyen]

Hello Seller Community,

You are invited to join Square’s Fireside Chat with Small Business Britain, the UK’s leading champion of small businesses, supporting all 5.8 million small businesses in the UK — no matter their location, their sector or their ambition level. This event is taking place on Tuesday, 18th October at 10am. 

Fireside Chat with Small Business Britain

We know many small businesses represented in the Seller Community are feeling the pressures of Brexit, the pandemic and now the cost of living crisis. We want to create a space for you to ask our expert guests and moderators about the resources available for small businesses, and the work that Square and Small Business Britain are doing to support businesses during this time. 

Register for Square’s Fireside Chat with Small Business Britain

Our Speakers

Michelle Ovens CBE is the founder of Small Business Britain and director of Small Business Saturday UK, a grassroots not-for-profit campaign. Michelle works closely in advising both government and the private sector on small business policy and engagement, and is a regular presence in the national media, appearing frequently on BBC News, Sky News, the Times & Forbes amongst others. 

Derek Corcoran is the Chief Operating Officer for Squareup International Ltd, part of Block. He is responsible for leading the charge on developing strategic engagement and commercial partnerships for Square in the region. Prior to Square, Derek has worked at Mastercard and Allied Irish Bank (AIB). 

Melinda Roylett is the Global Head of Small and Medium Business at Afterpay, part of Block. She is responsible for leading nearly 100 employees globally and driving the company’s small and medium business merchant growth. In 2020, she was awarded in the Senior Leaders category of Innovate Finance’s Tipe 150 Women in Finance Powerlist. 

Jennifer Lewis-Ford is the Inclusion & Diversity Lead at Square, responsible for building and leading the I&D strategy across Square. In this capacity, she partners closely with Square’s leadership to implement solutions that empower cultural diversity, inclusion, and equity across global operations. 

How to participate

After registering for the event, post questions in this thread that you would like our speakers to address. Questions must be submitted before Tuesday, 18th October. During the event, we will try to answer as many questions as we can. If your question is not answered during the call, we will follow-up after the event on this thread.

A few example questions:

• How can businesses handle inflation or financial uncertainty?

• What are examples of UK businesses who have overcome challenges in creative and innovative ways?

• What are the current trends or business opportunities that businesses should be in the look out for?

Unable to attend at this date and time? No problem. All events will be recorded and shared with registered attendees, and we will share answers to your questions on the Seller Community. 

Register for Square’s Fireside Chat with Small Business Britain

[TaddJohnson]

With costs going up every year for restaurant owners, what are some of the ways that they have been able to lower their payroll costs through using their Square products in innovative ways as well increase their turnover by using their square products?

[QPCOwner]

What resources (financial aid/grants and information) are available to help a sole practitioner business expand? Where can a business like this go to get guidance and/or mentorship?

[LesleyJeavons]

We’re still paying off business start up costs but need additional equipment to speed up and improve our production methods and grow. We’re nervous about taking on additional debt at a time when customers disposable income is disappearing. Any thoughts and advice on growth spending during a cost of living crisis? Many thanks, Lesley Jeavons, Jeavons Toffee (vegan confectioners)

[Twiggy]

Why is Square not part of Amex Shop Small Business 

[Twiggy]

@tranguyen @nika Interesting   - I was part of Amex shop small since its launch in 2012 It stopped when we moved totally to square - eg no individuidual merchant number for Amex.

I look forward to an email stating why we weren't "eligible" @ Derek Corcoran or if it was overlooked by Square

[SimonSimple]

When will iPhone tap to pay be launched in the UK?

[tranguyen]

Thank you everyone for joining the webinar this morning! We're working behind the scene to share the recording soon and we will also be sharing answers to all the questions that have been asked on this thread shortly. 

[tranguyen · Accepted solution]

Thank you eeryone for joining our Fireside Chat and for sharing your questions with us! 

We have put together an event recap for those who couldn't attend and for those who attended to review the resources and main topics discussed during the chat, along with answers to the questions posted above. 

You can also watch the chat on our event platform. Please make sure to sign in with the email address you used to register for the event!

To help us improve future events, please consider completing this short survey.