We were delighted to host a drinks reception last week at The Athenaeum club on Pall Mall, kindly hosted by Five Talents supporter and club member Professor Robin Morris, bringing together around 60 guests for a conversation on the role of small businesses in shaping economies, both in the UK and globally.
Our guest speaker, Martin McTague, National Chair of Federation of Small Business, shared thoughtful and timely insights on the huge contribution of small businesses, not only as drivers of economic activity, but as vital parts of communities. His reflections highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges facing the sector, particularly in the current international context.
The discussion continued with a Q&A, where Martin engaged openly with questions around government support and what could be done differently to enable small businesses to thrive. It was a valuable space for honest conversation, with a range of perspectives represented in the room.
We were also joined by guests from across different sectors, including Archbishop Ande from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which further enriched the discussion.
A particular highlight was Rachel’s story of Esther in Uganda, which offered a practical example of the themes discussed. Esther’s experience reflected the resilience often required to sustain a small business, as well as the importance of diversifying income to navigate uncertainty. It was a reminder that while the contexts may differ, many of the challenges and opportunities facing small business owners are shared.
“I’m 28, and a single mother to four. I have studied – I joined a short course which taught me about businesses. When I joined the savings group, I did not have my own business, but it was my dream. I saw others were selling tomatoes and other fruit and vegetables, but I researched what was rare in our town. Today, I am one of only three clothes shops in this town.
Generally, I can have about ten customers a day. I want to grow my business to include suits and office wear – this is what is missing in our town, but I need to wait to save and build up enough capital to take another loan. The group has helped me a lot. I can buy stock; when my children are sick, I can take them to the doctor and buy medicine; I can pay their school fees. I can do this myself.”
Thank you to all who joined us for an evening of thoughtful discussion and connection.
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