Category: Media Releases

Hampshire’s Entrepreneur Shortlisted for Prestigious National Business Award

The British Craft House has been chosen as a finalist for Britain’s best
‘New Kid on the Block’ business

7 APRIL 2020: Susan Bonnar, based in Lee on the Solent, the founder of The British Craft House, has been shortlisted for the New Kid on the Block category at this year’s Small Awards.

In its fifth year, The Small Awards is a nationwide search for the smallest and greatest firms in the UK, across all sectors. It is organised annually by Small Business Britain, which champions, inspires and accelerates small businesses in the UK.

• The British Craft House was founded by Susan Bonnar in 2019 and provides a platform for over 500 small independent businesses online to sell and grow. It has been chosen as one of five finalists for the award that recognises businesses that started in the last eighteen months and have demonstrated considerable progress to grow and develop.

• With eleven unique categories, the Small Awards celebrate the dynamism of the UK’s small business sector, across everything from longstanding family businesses and innovation-led start-ups, to social enterprise champions.

“After what has been a difficult year for the whole small business community, it has been inspirational to hear about phenomenal small businesses across the UK, and the determination and resilience they have shown throughout the pandemic,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain.

“The Small Awards exist to celebrate and champion the amazing contribution of fantastic small firms like The British Craft House. We received a record number of applications this year, with an incredibly high standard of entry, so all of the small businesses shortlisted should be rightly proud of this achievement.”

Susan Bonnar, founder of The British Craft House said “I am thrilled that we have been shortlisted amongst such fabulous competition for this coveted award. We not only provide a platform for our sellers to trade from but also offer the support and advice for them to thrive and grow.”

Judged by a panel of leading enterprise experts, the winners of all categories, along with the overall winner of Small Business of the Year, will be announced on 13 May 2021.

This year, in light of current restrictions, Small Business Britain will again be hosting its award ceremony as a lively virtual event, instead of the traditional glittering gala dinner. Small businesses across the country will zoom in together for an evening of fun celebrations, featuring entertainment, special guests, speeches, networking and more!

– Ends –

Notes to Editors

About The Small Awards

The Small Awards, launched in 2017, targets the whole small business sector focusing on businesses often overlooked by other awards.

The Small Awards is run by Small Business Britain, the UK’s leading champion of small businesses, supporting all 5.8 million small businesses in the UK – no matter their location, their sector, or their ambition level.

Through a series of reports, events and campaigns, Small Business Britain champions, inspires and accelerates small businesses in the UK to foster growth and increased confidence.

https://thesmallawards.uk
https://smallbusinessbritain.uk
Twitter: @TheSmallAwards
Facebook: @thesmallawards
Instagram: @thesmallawards

About The British Craft House

The British Craft House is a multi-vendor platform supporting over 500 sellers. Joining is by application only, to ensure the highest quality and each seller has their own shop within the site to sell their handmade designs. With an ethos of teamwork and support it has established itself quickly to be extremely competitive in the online retail marketplace. The British Craft House is all about making a difference for people. Both for crafters selling their passion, blood, sweat and tears, but also for people looking to buy something different. There is so much more value in buying something uniquely hand-made that you know is more sustainable and supports someone’s dream.

Media Contacts

For more information please contact Susan Bonnar
info@thebritishcrafthouse.co.uk
Tel 02393 190039

The British Craft House is thrilled to announce that we have joined the Natwest Accelerator at the Southampton Hub, as of March 2023.

The programme lasts for 6 months,  kicking off with a two-day Ignition induction process. This leads into a programme of various workshops, learning and coaching tailored for our business.

The NatWest Accelerator supports and empowers UK entrepreneurs to scale their businesses to the next level.

The programme specialising in wrap around support provides:

•  one-to-one coaching with our experienced Acceleration Managers
•  a programme of thought leadership and events
•  access to a network of like-minded peers, supported by their Ecosystem Managers
• focused support with access to experts from across our specialism
• use of  modern co-working spaces in Southampton

Entrepreneurs benefit from time with experienced Acceleration Managers, getting them to think differently, pushing them out of their comfort zones by challenging them as leaders.

So pleased to have been selected and can’t wait to get stuck in!

 

https://www.pressloft.com/app/press-office/thebritishcrafthouse/releases/51246

Outdoor living, Our latest British Craft House Press Release.  

HAMPSHIRE ENTREPRENEUR CELEBRATED AT HOUSE OF LORDS TO MARK INTERNATIONAL

WOMEN’S DAY

Inspirational female founders from across the UK gathered at the event to champion entrepreneurship.

9 MARCH 2022: SUSAN BONNAR owner/ founder of The British Craft House attended a
special International Women’s Day reception at the House of Lords on Monday, which
recognised their strong contribution to entrepreneurship.
The event spotlighted over 100 impressive, multi-achieving female business owners being
championed by Small Business Britain’s ƒ:Entrepreneur #ialso100 campaign, which
showcases the phenomenal contribution to society, economy and communities that many
female founders are making across the country.
SUSAN BONNAR was named an ƒ:Entrepreneur #ialso100 in 2021, in recognition of her
inspiring entrepreneurial journey, which has involved running a business alongside a roster
of other responsibilities. Whilst juggling a busy homelife she set up and runs the Solent
Crafters Network to allow local creatives to meet up for coffee and cake and she also likes to
run marathons for fun, to date she has raised over £6000 for charity.
SUSAN BONNAR enjoyed afternoon tea and networking in Westminster, meeting peers from
ƒ:Entrepreneur #ialso cohorts from both 2021 and 2022, as well as special guest speaker
Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, who paid tribute to the power of female
entrepreneurship.
SUSAN BONNAR said, “I was thrilled to be included in this list of inspirational females and
the opportunity to meet them in the House of Lords was incredible. After so many online
meet ups over the last 2 years it was terrific to be able to meet and network in person.”
Delivered by Small Business Britain – the leading champion of small businesses in the UK –
f:Entrepreneur campaign was launched in 2017 to highlight the stories of amazing female
business owners and help provide inspiration and role models across the wider small
business community. Now in its fifth year, the campaign offers a host of events, training and
networking opportunities to boost skills, capability and confidence.
This comes on the back of new research carried out by the campaign this month which
found that following the pandemic, nearly a fifth (17%) of women are considering
entrepreneurship, with 44% of them citing pursuing a passion as a key motivator, alongside
46% wanting greater flexibility.
‘Being in room full of such impressive female founders such as Susan Bonnar was really
uplifting, especially after a tough couple of years for entrepreneurs’, said Michelle Ovens
CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain and the ƒ:Entrepreneur campaign.
‘To hear all the incredible things that these women do and the impact they are making, not
just in their businesses but in their wider communities, is truly inspiring, and underlines that

we must do everything we can to support them. This profound desire among women to
create opportunity out of their passions, to build businesses with mission and purpose at
their hearts, and to drive forward success, despite everything thrown at them during this
pandemic, is amazingly powerful. We must nurture female entrepreneurship so it continues
to flourish in the UK and plays a key role in recovery.’
To see the full line-up of the 100 amazing women featured in this year’s f:entrepreneur
#ialso100 campaign visit https://f-entrepreneur.com/ialso-100-2022/
For last year’s list visit https://f-entrepreneur.com/ialso-100-2021/

 

HAMPSHIRE ENTREPRENEUR CELEBRATED AT HOUSE OF LORDS

Inspiring small business owners from across the UK attended a special event ahead of Small Business Saturday
29 Nov 21: Susan Bonnar owner/ founder of The British Craft House was invited to a special reception at the House of Lords on Monday, to be recognised for their successes and
achievements as a small business owner.

Hosted by Small Business Saturday, in partnership with the campaign’s principal supporter American Express, the event celebrated the SmallBiz100 – 100 inspiring small businesses from
all over the country that are highlighted as part of the Small Business Saturday UK campaign.

The British Craft House was named a SmallBiz100 in 2020, in recognition of their impressive entrepreneurial journey, which has seen them grow rapidly and become an emerging
competitor to Global brands such as Etsy, Not on the High Street and Amazon Handmade. Susan Bonnar said, “I was thrilled to be included in this list of aspiring businesses. To be invited
to the House of Lords to meet the other business owners was a fabulous experience”

Bringing together entrepreneurs from this year’s SmallBiz100 line-up and those called out in 2020, the guests were treated to afternoon tea overlooking the Thames. Entrepreneurs from across the country met with Small Business Minister, Paul Scully, along with enjoying the opportunity to come together for the first time since the pandemic hit. The House of Lords event kicks off a week of celebrations ahead of Small Business Saturday, which returns this weekend (4 December) following record-breaking success last year, which saw an estimated £1.1 billion spent with small businesses on the day itself.

Now in its ninth year in the UK, Small Business Saturday celebrates small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support businesses in their communities. This year
it is calling on the nation to share a ‘big thank you’ with small firms to recognise their vital role throughout the pandemic.

Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Busines Saturday UK said:
‘Hosting this special event at the House of Lords for amazing businesses like The British Craft House felt like the best way to say a big thank you for their incredible effort and contribution
over these past tough couple of years. They can be really proud of everything they’ve achieved, and we hope the afternoon was a positive way to draw 2021 to a close.’

Small Business Minister Paul Scully praised the business owners for their continued commitment to their communities:
“From the pubs, restaurants and shops that make our high streets tick, to leisure and personal care services – like the hairdresser who saved my post-lockdown blushes last year – small
businesses are at the heart of our way of life. I urge everyone to shop safely and back their local businesses on Small Business Saturday.”

A grassroots, not-for-profit campaign Small Business Saturday was originally founded by American Express in the U.S. in 2010. It remains the principal supporter of the campaign in
the UK, as part of its ongoing support of the UK high street and commitment to encouraging consumers to shop small.
On Small Business Saturday, customers across the UK go out and support all types of small businesses, both online and in brick-and-mortar stores. Many small businesses take an active
role in promoting the day by hosting events and offering promotions.
A huge wave of local events is expected across the country this weekend to support independents, as councils and community groups coincide festive markets and fun days with
Small Business Saturday, as well as offering free parking in town centres.

This weekend The British Craft House will be celebrating Small Business Saturday by encouraging the sellers on the platforms to shout out about their own achievements as well
as a local business that they support.

Dan Edelman from American Express said: “It’s so important that we all continue to support our favourite independents on Small Business
Saturday and beyond, and we’re proud to play our part through our own Shop Small campaign and as principal supporter of Small Business Saturday.”

 

 

 

– Ends –
Notes to Editors
Images and interviews are available on request
Media Contact
Please contact
• Susan Bonnar info@thebritishcrafthouse.co.uk
• media@smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com

Our latest Press Release is here! It does have a rather seasonal flavour!

 

 

Our Christmas in July round up!

https://www.pressloft.com/app/press-office/thebritishcrafthouse/releases/45982

Summer Living TBCH Style

https://www.pressloft.com/app/press-office/thebritishcrafthouse/releases/45282

https://www.pressloft.com/app/press-office/thebritishcrafthouse/releases/45202