22/08/2024
Fabulous to attend the launch event of Thrive Hive Live today and meet so many fabulous local businesses.
96% of all businesses in the UK are micro-businesses, employing on average 4-5 people. And 76% of all businesses are single-person operated! Yet these businesses account for around 30% of UK employment and 15% of total business turnover.
We heard today from businesses in the room how running your own business can provide freedom and flexibility and be an empowering experience...but also how demanding it can be, with feelings of isolation, loneliness, long hours and never switching off.
This is backed by research that shows 82% of small business owners suffering from poor mental health and 1 in 3 not knowing where to go for support.
Thrive Hive aims to become a self-supporting community for business owners and leaders...providing a safe space to allow the conversations that we often are having with ourselves to be aired and shared amongst a trusted peer group all built around a philosophy of 'paying it forward'...where through helping others we help ourselves & reap the 'emotional dividend'.
This is an opportunity for local business owners to create some headspace, support and prioritise their own mental wellbeing and be part of a group that supports each other through shared experiences.
It is also an opportunity for larger local businesses to support a thriving local business community through sponsoring these local Thrive Hive Live groups as part of their community engagement / CSR initiatives.
Big thanks to Ian Howard, Lynda Fussell, Alex Patient (CPCC) for making today's event happen and so excited to see Thrive Hive come to life-supporting businesses in Harrogate.
Also massive thanks to Liz Barclay UK Small Business Commissioner for supporting the event today, being such a huge supporter of the ethos behind Thrive Hive and for sharing her perspectives on the challenges that small businesses face.
