StartUp Britain tour bus is re-launched

StartUp Britain is launching its 2015 nationwide tour bus later this month from Canary Wharf, with plans to visit 25 locations across the country and engage with 15,000 established and aspiring entrepreneurs. The tour also aims to boost the number of businesses started this year to a record 600,000.

Founded in 2011, the campaign aims to celebrate, inspire and accelerate entrepreneurship in the UK by promoting and championing the support available for those wishing to start a business. It also claims to act as a voice for small business in government.

Joining small business software company Sage as a headline sponsor of the organisation, NatWest is providing its 1966 Routemaster bus, the NatWest Mobile Business School, for the tour, wrapping it with campaign branding to catch the eye of individuals both on the high street and the open road.

On board, national partners Start Up Loans Company and Upwork will be giving one-to-one advice and workshops to aspiring and early stage entrepreneurs, while local business organisations and entrepreneurs will provide mentoring and local guidance.

A spokesman for StartUp Britain said that since the organisation launched, it has seen record-breaking numbers of people each year starting businesses, showing that the entrepreneurial spirit within the UK continues to grow. He added that parking the StartUp Britain bus in town squares across the country will give people the confidence and inspiration to turn their business ideas into reality.

Starting on 22June, the bus will visit most major cities in the UK, including Brighton, Cardiff and Edinburgh, and will pull in for the last time at Inverness on 7 August. It will also be taking part in the London Pride parade.