Michelle Ovens CBE is the founder of Small Business Britain, the UK's leading champion of small businesses, and a passionate advocate for inclusive entrepreneurship. She leads a portfolio of national campaigns including f:Entrepreneur, the Small & Mighty programme, and The Small Awards.
Michelle is also Director of Small Business Saturday UK, which she has led since its launch in 2013, supporting millions of small firms across the country.
She is Co-Chair of the Willow Review, focused on the financial benefits of sustainability for small businesses, and played a central role in founding the Lilac Review, tackling the barriers faced by Disabled-led entrepreneurs. Michelle is also the co-chair for the Government-backed Maple Review which is dedicated to identifying and dismantling the barriers to entrepreneurship caused by economic deprivation and is currently serving on the UK Government's Board of Trade. From 2018 to 2020, she served as Chair of the Small Business Charter.
Prior to her campaigning work, Michelle ran a small business strategy consultancy for over a decade and holds an MBA from London Business School. She was awarded a CBE in the 2021 New Year Honours for Services to Small Business and Entrepreneurs.
Karen is Small Business Britain's Marketing Director and oversees all campaign and programme outputs as well as works on partner engagement, strategy and planning.
She oversees and runs the f:Entrepreneur campaign which champions and supports all female entrepreneurs as well as manages key partnerships, events and programmes. Karen and her team are responsible for bringing the Small Business Britain, Small Business Saturday UK and subsequent programmes and campaigns to life.
Karen has more than 20 years journalistic and senior marketing experience and has a passion for raising the profile of all small business owners.
Award winning virtual PA Michelle Collins and her team at Pink Spaghetti Chester and North Wales have been providing support across the Small Business Britain campaigns since 2018 and are passionate supporters of small businesses.
You will find Michelle and her team working behind the scenes managing emails, social media, newsletters and updating systems and processes. Michelle also loves a good celebration and relishes meeting the Small Business Britain community both at in person and online events to celebrate their successes throughout the year.
Anna heads up all sustainability work at Small Business Britain, leading work on sustainability training programmes, the Green Growth Awards and the Willow Review, helping small business owners to understand the opportunities of sustainability in business. She is also part of the team working on the Lilac Centre for Disabled Entrepreneurs and the Maple Review, aiming to dismantle barriers caused by economic deprivation. Across her work she manages relationships with key stakeholders including government, policy makers and the wider business community.
Rachel heads up media and communications for Small Business Britain and its campaigns, raising awareness of the vital role of small businesses in the UK, profiling the key issues and championing fantastic small firms and entrepreneurs.
Rachel has over 10 years' experience in corporate communications, working on behalf of purpose-driven businesses, entrepreneurs and not for profits.
Mat is part of Small Business Britain's marketing and events team. Coming from a background in hospitality and customer-facing roles, he brings energy, warmth and care to everything he does, especially when it comes to supporting small business communities across the UK.
He leads on regional engagement, helps deliver national programmes, and heads up the iconic Small Business Saturday Tour. Mat also champions the Small Business Britain's NetWalks, which create space for small business owners to connect, recharge and support their mental health in a relaxed setting.
If you're a dog owner, sunset chaser or love North Cornwall, be ready for a conversation.
Emma is the Programme Team Lead at Small Business Britain, where she manages the delivery of digital webinars and programmes with expert trainers, partners, and organisations across the UK. She also oversees various partners and stakeholders and leads both the Small & Mighty programme and the national Digital Tour for Small Business Saturday.
Marina is a Press and Communications Senior Manager at Small Business Britain, working across its campaigns and programmes, supporting and spotlighting entrepreneurs across the UK. She has spent her career so far in press and comms, in both corporate and non-profit environments, and has an academic background in creative writing.
Gemma leads the Lilac Centre, championing the success of Disabled and neurodivergent entrepreneurs across the UK, and the newly launched Maple Review, which aims to break down the barriers to entrepreneurship caused by economic deprivation.
For the past three years, she has been part of the Small Business Saturday Tour Team, travelling the UK in the run-up to the big day, meeting hundreds of inspiring small businesses and showcasing their incredible achievements.
She also supports Mat with the BT Netwalks programme and Anna on sustainability initiatives and has a passion for creating engaging in-person events, including Innovate Access, which brought together Disabled founders with leading assistive tech and AI companies.
Mike is the Executive Assistant to Michelle Ovens CBE. Mike is an experienced Executive Assistant with a proven track record of providing high-level support to small businesses and start-ups.
He collaborates closely with the team, building strong working relationships while offering dedicated support.
Becca is the creative force behind Small Business Britain's social media. She brings the stories of small businesses to life online, working on day-to-day content, campaigns, and community engagement across platforms.
With a passion for supporting local entrepreneurs and a keen eye for what's trending, Becca makes sure Small Business Britain's channels are always inspiring and full of personality.
Ellie is a Programme Manager at Small Business Britain, supporting the delivery of digital skills, training and small business support programmes. Working closely with expert speakers, she helps to bring practical, engaging content to entrepreneurs across the UK.
Katrina joined Small Business Britain in November 2024 as a Press Officer, bringing with her a wealth of journalistic expertise as a former TV news reporter in Australia and producer in London. Drawing on her media experience, she helps share important stories in a clear and engaging way.
Since joining the team, she has worked across key campaigns, coordinated partner press outreach, and hosts f:Entrepreneur Instagram Lives every Tuesday. Katrina is committed to helping small business owners and entrepreneurs succeed by amplifying their voices and driving impactful change.