Ex-Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis – creator of one of the UK’s leading small business initiatives, Small Business Sunday – has teamed up with NatWest to host a roundtable event in London on Thursday 29th June 2023.
Theo Paphitis is passionate about supporting small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs around the UK.
In 2010, he created #SBS Small Business Sunday, which has since become one of the UK’s leading small business networks. It boasts over 3,750 businesses in the community, providing opportunities to help them upskill and take their business to the next level.
This exclusive ‘State of the Nation’ roundtable event will be open to the thousands of small businesses who have won the #SBS Small Business Sunday award, and will offer six award winners the chance to have lunch with Theo himself, alongside key members of his team and NatWest. They’ll have the chance to discuss some of the most important and pressing issues facing small businesses today.
The event aims to develop strategies to overcome challenges and capitalise on opportunities, with plans to create a report to help support others in the small business community.
In conversation with UKBF founder Richard "Ozzy" Osbourne on our DRIVE podcast, Theo discussed his journey from being born to a working class family in Limassol, Cyprus and growing up with dyslexia, to running his first business and building a retail empire. He also spoke about what he learned about investing during his time on Dragons' Den, as well as how he overcame the challenges of his learning difficulties and why more entrepreneurial education is needed to help UK business thrive.
Watch the full episode below:
"Small businesses are the lifeline of the UK economy and that’s why it’s so important to give them a voice. I’m delighted that #SBS is increasingly the platform for them to do that.”
He is also looking forward to sharing the #SBS State of the Nation report later in the year, which will provide insights into the discussions and key takeaways from the event. It will include practical insights and recommendations to help small business owners improve their business operations and navigate the challenges of the current business environment.
NatWest supports customers across England and Wales with personal, private and business banking, helping people at all stages of their lives with setting up a business. NatWest offers a wide range of banking services as well as specialist entrepreneurial support.
Debbie Lewis, Regional EcoSystems Manager at NatWest said of the event: “This collaboration truly exemplifies our unwavering commitment to support businesses [...] and we look forward to working with #SBS Small Business Sunday to continue to champion the entrepreneurial journey, supporting aspiring individuals as they transform their visions into reality."
You can find out more about Small Business Sunday and how to enter on Theo Paphitis’ website: www.theopaphitissbs.com. You can also listen to the full DRIVE podcast episode featuring Theo Paphitis here.
Want more from UKBF? Upgrade to a Business Membership today, and make the most of exclusive benefits including premium forums, partner offers and member-only content. You could save your business more than £400 a year by upgrading your account.
Theo Paphitis is passionate about supporting small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs around the UK.
In 2010, he created #SBS Small Business Sunday, which has since become one of the UK’s leading small business networks. It boasts over 3,750 businesses in the community, providing opportunities to help them upskill and take their business to the next level.
This exclusive ‘State of the Nation’ roundtable event will be open to the thousands of small businesses who have won the #SBS Small Business Sunday award, and will offer six award winners the chance to have lunch with Theo himself, alongside key members of his team and NatWest. They’ll have the chance to discuss some of the most important and pressing issues facing small businesses today.
The event aims to develop strategies to overcome challenges and capitalise on opportunities, with plans to create a report to help support others in the small business community.
More about Theo Paphitis
As well as founding Small Business Sunday and featuring as an investor on the hit TV show, Dragons’ Den, Theo Paphitis is the Chairman/Owner of Ryman, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue. He founded the Theo Paphitis Retail Group in 2015, which comprises over 300 stores and more than 4,000 employees.In conversation with UKBF founder Richard "Ozzy" Osbourne on our DRIVE podcast, Theo discussed his journey from being born to a working class family in Limassol, Cyprus and growing up with dyslexia, to running his first business and building a retail empire. He also spoke about what he learned about investing during his time on Dragons' Den, as well as how he overcame the challenges of his learning difficulties and why more entrepreneurial education is needed to help UK business thrive.
Watch the full episode below:
What to expect from the #SBS roundtable
Theo believes the roundtable event is a fantastic opportunity for small business owners to come together and share their experiences, learning from each other along the way:"Small businesses are the lifeline of the UK economy and that’s why it’s so important to give them a voice. I’m delighted that #SBS is increasingly the platform for them to do that.”
He is also looking forward to sharing the #SBS State of the Nation report later in the year, which will provide insights into the discussions and key takeaways from the event. It will include practical insights and recommendations to help small business owners improve their business operations and navigate the challenges of the current business environment.
NatWest supports customers across England and Wales with personal, private and business banking, helping people at all stages of their lives with setting up a business. NatWest offers a wide range of banking services as well as specialist entrepreneurial support.
Debbie Lewis, Regional EcoSystems Manager at NatWest said of the event: “This collaboration truly exemplifies our unwavering commitment to support businesses [...] and we look forward to working with #SBS Small Business Sunday to continue to champion the entrepreneurial journey, supporting aspiring individuals as they transform their visions into reality."
When and where will the event take place?
The Small Business Sunday roundtable event, hosted by Theo Paphitis in partnership with NatWest, takes place at the Coutts headquarters in London on Thursday 29th June.You can find out more about Small Business Sunday and how to enter on Theo Paphitis’ website: www.theopaphitissbs.com. You can also listen to the full DRIVE podcast episode featuring Theo Paphitis here.
Want more from UKBF? Upgrade to a Business Membership today, and make the most of exclusive benefits including premium forums, partner offers and member-only content. You could save your business more than £400 a year by upgrading your account.
