#MicroBizMattersDay on Friday 13th January

KCOM, Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership and Hull City Council will be taking part in the third annual #MicroBizMattersDay on Friday 13^th  January to celebrate the contribution made by micro businesses to the UK economy. #MicroBizMattersDay takes place everywhere in the world and any which way anyone chooses. January 13th is about at least 13 minutes of actions – online and offline – on the ground, in the air and on the sea. There are no rules and borders in enterprise.

As part of the day, micro businesses across the UK are being encouraged to give 13 minutes of their time to support to other micro businesses, and in Hull the JCYEB in partnership  with KCOM has agreed to host an event in Hull

The video will be used on the day as part of the Enterprising Young People hour where the city's young entrepreneurs will be giving one minute tips to aspiring young people on youth entrepreneurship and the Big 13 Enterprise Skills. 

Cllr Martin Mancey, said: 

“I am pleased that as we start Hull City of Culture that what we do to support micro businesses in particular young people is to be highlighted. Hull City Council have a commitment to micro businesses and once again I am pleased to support #MicroBizMattersDay and kick off the New Year with a call to Hull’s business community to  #IGave13 minutes. It is great that so many young people supported by our making changes for careers programme who are just starting their enterprising journey will be taking part as well as KCOM”

"It's fantastic that young entrepreneurs in Hull are supporting Micro Biz Day 2017 by playing an active part in the Enterprising Young People Hour and by giving up their time to support other young entrepreneurs across the UK as well as three enterprising pupils from St Mary’s College will be taking part Millie Notarantonio, Mary Close and Emily Oakshott. 

Tina Boden Founder of Enterprise Rockers and Micro Biz Day 

"We are delighted that Hull through its work in supporting micro businesses, in particular young entrepreneurs, will be joining us on 13 January 2017 as part of Micro Biz Matters day, on the day hundreds of thousands of micro business owners - we really hope it will be 1 million - will be giving 13 minutes (or more) of their time to help other micro business owners somewhere in the world." 

The three main areas of focus for #IGave13 minutes of action to help other micro enterprise owners are Customers, Cash flow and Confidence. 

"Hull's involvement in this annual day of recognition, action and learning further illustrates its commitment to youth entrepreneurship and micro businesses across the city." 

Ross Bennett, Chair Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership, said: 

"Young people who set up a business are just like any other person, however, often they are not taken seriously by larger organisations and businesses, and like all micro businesses they are playing a vital role in reviving the economy. 

"Britain's micro businesses in general and younger entrepreneurs in particular are almost twice as optimistic about the future growth of their business compared to older peers. 

"In a nutshell it's not always about high growth and expansion for young people, it's about enjoying what they are doing and many are wanting to put back into their community, not because it's the trendy thing to do but because it's the right thing to do and for that reason I am pleased that so many young people are making a contribution to #MicroBizMattersDay." 

Further Information

1.      Although, most countries are seeing record numbers of self-employed and micro enterprise owners (in the UK, for example 95% of all businesses are micro enterprise – 5 million) it is getting tougher to earn a reasonable living. In many countries the behaviour of national, regional and local government, alongside some large organisations, makes it an uphill struggle. (In the UK 1 in 7 of the workforce are self-employed but are earning 20% less than in 2008).

2.     The annual, global #MicroBizMattersDay shows the world the massive contribution independent business owners and the self-employed make to the global economy, job creation and community. We call this combined power of micro enterprise owners the #PowerOfPlenty. #MicroBizMattersDay of actions is primarily for these people – the #PowerOfPlenty. But on #MicroBizMattersDay everyone can play and do something to support micro enterprise.

3.     Since January 9th 2012 the free-to-join-in Enterprise Rockers (@MicroBizMatters) movement has been building the #PowerOfPlenty. British co-founders and co-funders of the Enterprise Rockers, Tina and Tony, along with Band Promoters (individuals) and Friends of the Rockers (organisations with networks of micro enterprise owners) have been increasing their reach around the world, through social media.The Enterprise Rockers movement has achieved a great deal to make life better for micro enterprise owners but much more can be achieved by hundreds of thousands of people, millions potentially, giving thirteen minutes of positive, helpful actions on January 13th 2017

4.     January 13th 2016 is the third, global, annual #MicroBizMattersDay of actions. Everyone is asked to give at least 13 minutes, day or night, to make life better for micro enterprise (0-9 employees) owners everywhere.