Small Business Saturday landed yesterday (Saturday 6 December) with ministers urging people to spend with independents on their doorstep. Government figures say backing the UK’s 5.7m small businesses could deliver a festive uplift worth around £5bn, with campaign data putting the total at £5.3bn - a 19% rise on last year. For high streets from Tyneside to Trafford, that spend is crucial.

“This Small Business Saturday is a great chance to get out to your local high streets and support small businesses,” said Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle, framing the push as part of a wider ‘Backing Your Business’ plan unveiled this year. Ministers say it sits alongside a promised clamp‑down on late payments that has been billed as the toughest in 25 years.

There’s a strong northern story in the numbers too. New analysis suggests North West households will spend about £911 on Christmas - above the UK average of £824 - and are set to send almost a quarter of their festive budgets to small firms. That’s real money into local tills in places like Altrincham, Accrington and Ancoats.

Michelle Ovens CBE from Small Business Saturday UK called small firms “essential to both their communities and the whole economy,” with research for the campaign and American Express indicating nine in ten people see independents adding value locally and most say they should be supported.

Ministers fanned out ahead of the day, visiting Stoke’s Carse & Waterman animation studio, Glasgow’s Jeavons Toffee and London groomer Bow Wow. The Small Business Saturday roadshow has also been touring the country - including Manchester, Durham and Carlisle - showcasing independents and the people behind them.

For owners juggling cashflow, the headline pledge is action on late payment. Proposals include maximum 60‑day terms (with a path to 45), a 30‑day dispute window, mandatory interest on overdue bills and expanded powers for the Small Business Commissioner - including fines and spot checks - alongside board‑level scrutiny of payment practices.

On finance, the government points to a £4bn package announced with the Small Business Plan: 69,000 Start‑Up Loans worth £1bn plus extra capital for the British Business Bank to widen access to loans via its ENABLE programme. Officials say this is about practical help for sole traders, start‑ups and family firms on the high street.

Support is also being funnelled through a new Business Growth Service - a single front door for advice rolling out with digital tools, including an AI feature that helps firms find relevant funding faster. Northern business funds, such as the British Business Bank’s NPIF II, continue to back firms with smaller loans that can make a big difference.

Context matters. The UK has around 5.7m private‑sector businesses and SMEs account for roughly three‑fifths of private‑sector employment, underlining why a December boost and faster invoice payments matter in Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and beyond.

What happens next? The late‑payment consultation has closed and the Department for Business and Trade says its formal response will land in the new year. Until then, every pound kept local helps. If you can, spend with a northern independent, book a local tradesperson, or buy a gift voucher today - it all stays closer to home.