Small businesses are the beating heart of the UK economy. In 2013 more small businesses were started in the UK than ever before.

There are now 4.9 million small businesses in the UK, employing more than 24 million people and with a combined turnover of £3,300 billion; small businesses alone account for almost 60% of private sector employment and nearly half of all private sector turnover.

Most people in the UK own, work for or know somebody who works for a small business. Now, imagine if we could help 20% of small businesses in the UK increase their turnover by just £30,000 per annum. This could add £3 billion to the UK economy and create up to one million new jobs.

That would be in everyone’s best interests.

Ingenious Britain is a collaborative network for small businesses, offering advice, exchanging best practice and connecting small business owners across multiple platforms with the aim of bringing this about. It ends the sense of isolation and invisibility felt by some small business owners by offering the chance to come together with others in a similar position, to share ideas and be part of this bigger movement, whilst retaining their independence and individuality.

Established in 2011 as a resource and advice hub, Ingenious Britain has an active network of more than 40,000 small businesses interacting online via its website and its social platforms on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google Plus. It also stages events, creates small business podcasts and produces a magazine three times a year, which circulates with the Sunday Telegraph to 600,000 small businesses.

Most importantly, Ingenious Britain is a grassroots organisation, which inherently understands the challenges, the benefits and the excitement of owning your own company.

In short, it’s the UK’s small business movement – by small business, for small business and if you own or work for a small business it’s for you!.