STORT Valley Spirits (SVS), an Essex-based business, has been selected as one of the nation’s 100 most inspiring small firms by the Small Business Saturday UK campaign, as it marks its ten-year anniversary.

Stort Valley Spirits was formed in 2020 by Emma and Rob Robson of Old Harlow. Initially offering a range of handmade artisan spirits for wholesale and retail and operating from Safestore in Harlow, they have expanded rapidly, moving into the newly constructed Weston House, part of the Allen House Business Centre in The Maltings, in May 2021.

After being approached by several producers, they widened their range to include local beer, cider, sparkling wine, coffee, and most recently soft drinks. In October 2021 they realised that there was a gap in the corporate market for fully customised, sustainable, ethically sourced, gift hampers and began researching what ambient food products were available locally. In the run up to Christmas they sent out more than two hundred hampers and aim to triple this in 2022.

SVS has been chosen to be part of this year’s SmallBiz100 line- up, which showcases impressive, independent businesses from across the nation.

Now in its tenth year in the UK Small Business Saturday will return on 3 December 2022, with a mission to support and celebrate the UK’s 5.5 million small businesses, particularly as they face mounting economic challenges over the winter.

Emma Robson, Director of Stort Valley Spirits said “Supporting local is something we have always been passionate about, supporting small businesses is not only beneficial to them but also to the local economy.

“We are fortunate to have some wonderful local producers in Herts and Essex and being recognised as a SmallBiz100 is a great honour.

“It allows us to reach more people and shout about how great local really is. I don’t think people realise what we have on our doorstep- our most local product is pasta produced from wheat grown in fields in Lower Sheering a couple of hundred metres from our office. We believe that we offer a unique service, allowing businesses to customise their gifts based on budget, dietary requirements and tastes. So many of the bigger companies don’t offer that flexibility but we want to show people that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a unique and memorable gift.

“Our goal for the coming year is to get more Herts & Essex businesses supporting local for their corporate gifting and developing our wholesale arm”

Stort Valley Spirits will be profiled by the campaign on 11th November as part of the 100-day countdown to Small Business Saturday UK.

“It’s fantastic to celebrate small firms just like Stort Valley Spirits as part of our 10-year anniversary of the campaign,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday UK.

“Over the past decade we have been able to spotlight dynamic businesses from across the nation, who remind us of the incredible tenacity and determination of small firms in this country. It’s brilliant to have Stort Valley Spirits in this year’s SmallBiz100 line-up.”

A grassroots, not-for-profit campaign, Small Business Saturday first came to the UK in 2013 has grown into an iconic campaign celebrating small business success and encouraging consumers to ‘shop local’ and support businesses in their communities.

The campaign was originally founded by American Express in the U.S. in 2010, and the brand remains the principal supporter of the campaign in the UK.

On Small Business Saturday customers across the UK go out and support all types of small businesses, from independent shops and restaurants to small service and b2b based businesses like accountants and digital marketeers. Many small businesses take an active role in promoting the day by hosting events and offering promotions.

Over the time the campaign has run in the UK it has engaged millions each year, with combined spend on the day topping over £1 billion.

Small Business Saturday attracts huge attention on the day itself, with an impact that lasts all year. Last year the campaign trended at number one in the UK on Twitter, with the PrimeMinister, leader of the opposition and the Mayor of London among those publicly supporting the campaign. Over 90% of local councils also supported the campaign.

The 2022 date coincides with several well-attended annual events across Herts and Essex including Bishop’s Stortford Christmas Market, Braintree Street Market, Witham Christmas Market, and The Hertfordshire Christmas Show. Stort Valley Spirits is also working with Redchurch Brewery to organise a Christmas Market on the 10th December to be held at the brewery in aid of St Clare Hospice from 12-5pm.

To get involved in Small Business Saturday UK visit – https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com