As part of its Shop Small campaign, American Express is pledging a total of £100,000 to support small businesses this Autumn. As a longstanding backer of the high street, American Express is calling on its Cardmembers to nominate their favourite independent small businesses through a new ‘Champion Small’ initiative, with 10 businesses nationwide each set to receive a £10,000 grant. These grants can be spent by businesses to support growth, for example by purchasing new equipment, shop signage, or for spending on marketing and advertising.
American Express is encouraging its Cardmembers to get involved by entering everyone who nominates a small business into a prize draw to win a £1,000 statement credit. To nominate a business, Amex® Cardmembers can visit the Champion Small website between 7 October – 7 December 2024.
Shortlisted merchants will be put forward to an expert judging panel who will score them against criteria including customer reviews, product innovation, community impact and how the grant will positively benefit their business.
The judging panel – which includes Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday UK; Golda Rosheuvel, actor and co-owner of small business Imma The Bakery; Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association; Tony Sophoclides, Strategic Affairs Director at UK Hospitality; and Dan Edelman, General Manager, Merchant Services at American Express – will then decide on 10 winners.
American Express has a long history of championing the high street through its Shop Small campaign and is proud to be the founder and principal supporter of Small Business Saturday in the UK, which takes place in the UK on 7 December, coinciding with the closing date for Champion Small nominations.
Dan Edelman, VP & UK General Manager, Merchant Services at American Express, said: “Over a decade since its launch, our Shop Small campaign continues to encourage people out onto the high street, and we are thrilled to extend our backing of small business this year by offering 10 Champion Small grants. Small, independent shops are hugely valuable to local communities across the UK and our hope is that this funding helps these businesses continue to thrive.”
Golda Rosheuvel, actor and Amex Shop Small Ambassador said: “Small businesses bring so much diversity to the high street and are an important part of my life, not least as the proud co-owner of Imma The Bakery. It’s my privilege to be part of the judging panel for Champion Small. I can’t wait to learn about the nominees and their stories – it will be great to hear how they are making a difference to their customers and local communities.”
Director of Small Business Saturday UK, Michelle Ovens said: “Small Business Saturday has always been about celebrating the phenomenal contribution small businesses make to our lives. So it is wonderful to see this new initiative launch by American Express that will not only encourage greater recognition of the UK’s amazing small firms, but also provide much-needed financial support to help them to scale and unleash new innovations.”
For more information on how to participate in the Champion Small initiative, click here
