Facebook is helping UK SMEs

Facebook has acknowledged that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the heart of the UK’s economy and consequently is helping empower many of them to grow their businesses.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) stated that in 2017, SMEs accounted for 99 per cent of all private sector businesses in Britain, 60 per cent of private sector employment, and 52 per cent of all private sector turnover.
At present, millions of SMEs are utilising Facebook and its family of apps to get started, grow, trade and recruit.
Ciaran Quilty, Vice President for small businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, says Facebook has a responsibility towards these businesses to support their growth further because when local businesses grow, they hire more people and strengthen communities.
“Discovering and connecting consumers with businesses that they care about is a fundamental part of the Facebook experience,” Quilty says.
Through Facebook’s global Community Boost programme, the multinational company has committed to training a million people in Europe in digital skills by 2020.
In London, this November, more than 1,000 entrepreneurs are attending a Community Boost event.
Quilty says: “We recognise we have a bigger responsibility to society and the communities we work in. That’s why we invest in programmes such as Community Boost, designed to help people get together, connect and invest in building the digital skills essential to the economy’s future.”
Within the programme, there is a focus to connect with women as a priority. More than 1,000 businesses are created in Britain annually, however, last year just 19 per cent of SMEs were led by women. As a result, Facebook has created a #SheMeansBusiness campaign which aims to help more women take their business ideas forward.
Since 2016, around 13,000 women have been supported by Facebook and its partners (FSB, Enterprise Nation and AllBright) in starting or growing a business.
Quilty explains: “#SheMeansBusiness is a thriving network where women connect, share experiences, skills training and tools through a combination of in-person meet-ups and online communities.”
55 per cent of SMEs who used Facebook said they had an increase in sales because of the platform, and it had helped them sell products in other cities and countries. Half said they had hired more employees as a result of joining the platform.
“Today there are around 375 million people outside of the UK connected to businesses in the UK via Facebook,” adds Quilty. “The ability to export and reach these people across the borders is really powerful. It’s a massive driver of jobs and therefore it can support Britain’s economic growth.”

Awards and Accreditations

Get in touch

Get in touch

If you would like to see full details of our data practices please visit our Privacy Policy and if you have any questions please email contact@grunberg.co.uk.

x