SUPPORT for small businesses was out in force in York yesterday as a national campaign bus rolled into the city centre.

Organisers of Small Business Saturday UK, a campaign that promotes small, and independent businesses across the country, brought its tour bus to York yesterday, parking in St Helen's Square throughout the day.

Using the theme “5 million small businesses, 1 big day”, the bus tour began on Sunday November 1, and will visit 30 locations around the country to promote the campaign to both consumers and small business owners.

Small Business Saturday is being held on December 5, and as part of the campaign small businesses across the country were chosen to feature on each of the 100 days in the run up to it.

Helen Goodwin of York window dressing business Made You Look! was one of the Small Biz 100 this year, and was on hand for the Small Business Saturday bus stop in the city to share her knowledge and host a retail display workshop.

Commenting on the bus tour, Small Business Saturday national campaign director, Michelle Ovens said: "Small Business Saturday is exceptional example of collaboration and co-operation with small businesses teaming up in communities around the UK.

"The bus tour is a very visible way of enabling small businesses to engage with the campaign as we head around the UK, drumming up interest, support and enthusiasm.

"We are visiting even more places this year and are really looking forward to welcoming small business owners and consumers to the bus to get information and find out ways in which they can support small businesses and make the day work most effectively for companies in their own communities."

Also featuring as one of the Small Biz Saturday 100 businesses is independent Helmsley art gallery Bils & Rye, and fish and chip shop Scotts of Helmsley.

Now entering its third year Small Business Saturday last year saw 16.5 million adults support a small business on Small Business Saturday with 64 per cent of the UK aware of the campaign.