Sage commits to headline sponsorship of StartUp Britain campaign, to encourage and support entrepreneurs to start and grow their business
Sage, the business software and services provider, has today announced that it will be sponsoring entrepreneur campaign StartUp Britain for the next twelve months. The collaboration will see Sage providing both commercial support and expertise, including taking part in regional start-up focused events and the famous, nationwide StartUp Bus Tour.
Launched four years ago, StartUp Britain is a non-profit campaign run by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. As part of the Centre for Entrepreneurs - the entrepreneurs' think-tank - the campaign harnesses the expertise and passion of Britain’s leading businesspeople, aiming to celebrate, inspire and accelerate enterprise across the UK. The coming financial year will see StartUp Britain focus in particular on encouraging growth, exporting, digitising businesses and working with universities and colleges to encourage student entrepreneurship.
The partnership follows a record-breaking year for start-ups, with continued year-on-year growth in the number of businesses being created. According to research from the Centre for Entrepreneurs, 581,173 businesses were registered with Companies House in 2014; nine per cent more than in 2013 and a new record number for the UK.
As one of Britain’s biggest business success stories with more than 800,000 customers in the UK, many of which are small businesses, Sage is perfectly placed to provide insight on the challenges facing small business owners and specifically how technology can help overcome them. Modern technology means you can start and run a business from anywhere with an Internet connection, especially with cloud-based software like Sage One Accounts and Payroll and Sage Pay.
“Britain’s start-ups aren’t just surviving, they’re thriving,” commented Lee Perkins, MD of Sage UK & Ireland. “Much of this success lies in ensuring they have access to the right advice and support, drawing on experience and insight to grow their business. We’re proud to be working with StartUp Britain to build business confidence through showcasing the expertise and passion that the best of British businesses have to offer.”
“Flexibility and agility are also vital for small businesses, and the keys to competitive advantage. This means that business owners need to know their firms inside out, with the ability to access crucial information from anywhere. In today’s world of digitised business this often means working in the cloud.”
Luke Johnson, serial entrepreneur and chairman of the Centre for Entrepreneurs commented: “Starting a business is easier, quicker and cheaper than ever thanks to new technology. There’s never been a better time to set up and grow a business in the UK, and with support from organisations such as StartUp Britain and Sage, we’re seeing steady growth in entrepreneurship, year on year. We look forward to our partnership this year and working together to build business confidence across the country.”