1st eBay Business Roadshow in Sheffield

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3 May 2022

Small businesses and entrepreneurs across Yorkshire attended the 1st eBay Business Roadshow at Sheffield City Hall last week. The event kicked off the company’s first ever physical regional roadshow and investment programme in the UK, turning up at the doorsteps of small businesses across the country, helping would-be and fledgling entrepreneurs to both start up and scale up their online businesses.

Murray Lambell, eBay UK’s General Manager, opened the event by recognizing the challenges facing small businesses as the cost of living tightens and stressing the volatility of the retail trading environment. He argued that small businesses are particularly bearing the brunt of inflation, supply chain issues and tax – especially in light of changing consumer habits.

Lord Callanan, Minister for Business, Energy and Corporate Responsibility, closed the event with a speech that focused on the vital support needed for small businesses across both the public and private sectors.

In partnership with Small Business Britain and the British Chambers of Commerce, the event included a number of informative sessions with top speakers. Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain, discussed how small businesses can best overcome and recover in 2022, whilst Karen Mosley, President of the Sheffield Chambers of Commerce, focused on how to hire, retain and champion the best people.

Further insight sessions on how to start up and scale up small businesses were also held – from building a sustainable business to hiring and retaining talent. Small business owners attending included Catherine Boswell, founder of Vintro Clothing:

Since starting Vintro Clothing with my husband eight years ago, we have never looked back. The corporate world just didn’t suit us and the eBay platform allowed us to make our dreams a reality. However, we can’t deny that the last two years haven’t been difficult and that the current climate is giving us renewed concern. That’s why an event like this is so important; not only in the support it provides but in gathering so many small businesses together to share their experiences. As a long-timer on the platform, I hope that the insight we’ve shared can help other businesses – of whatever shape and size – to see the opportunities it can provide.
– Catherine Boswell, founder, Vintro Clothing

At the event, Murray Lambell also announced eBay’s landmark grant and funding announcement, which will see it invest over £1m in grants and support packages for small businesses across the UK. Entrepreneurs and small businesses attending each event will have the opportunity to apply for the grants and support packages, with winners announced in the following weeks.

It’s been incredible to see so many small businesses turn up to our very first eBay Business Roadshow. It has been a really difficult couple of years for small businesses and entrepreneurs right across the country, and the future looks no less challenging. That’s why we were so keen to host an event that could make a meaningful difference – providing these business owners with tangible skills, advice and networking opportunities that can help them thrive in the long term.
It was also a valuable learning exercise for us, giving us an important opportunity to hear first hand from local entrepreneurs and the stories that brought them here today. We want to open our community to even more businesses, so hope that these discussions helped to drive awareness of our platform and the opportunities it can give to both start-up entrepreneurs and established sellers alike.
– Murray Lambell, General Manager, eBay UK