Resilience Rocks at #SBSEvent2026: A Celebration of Small Business Strength and Spirit
On Friday 20th February 2026 , TV Dragon and retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis welcomed hundreds of entrepreneurs to the ICC Birmingham for the 13th annual Small Business Sunday (#SBS) event. Now in its 16th year, #SBS has grown into one of the UK’s leading small business communities, with more than 4,500 members nationwide.
This year’s theme, “Resilience Rocks!”, celebrated the determination, adaptability and creativity that define the UK’s small business community. From keynote discussions and practical workshops to the live pitch competition, the theme ran through every part of the day.
Theo Paphitis reflected on the event: “#SBS is about more than recognition - it’s about belief in ideas, entrepreneurs and the power of community. Every year, I’m inspired by the energy, innovation and resilience within the #SBS family. When we back small businesses, we’re backing people, families and futures.”
Inspiring Conversations and Highlights
A standout moment was the fireside chat with Katie Piper OBE, whose story and insights on resilience left a lasting impression on the audience. The main stage also featured Kypros Kyprianou (CEO, Theo Paphitis Retail Group), Sim Takhar from TikTok Shop, and the “Small Business Stories: Resilience Rocks” panel, with Jenna Wilson (Little Dreams Consulting), Sophia Lorimer (Fine-Tuned Wardrobe) and Hanan Tantush (Intotum), in a discussion which was hosted by small business journalist Dan Martin.
The Pitch Competition
This year’s Live Pitch Competition, delivered in partnership with NatWest Accelerator, gave entrepreneurs a chance to pitch live for a share of £10,000 or one-to-one business mentoring. A huge congratulations to Kate Taylor (Evenly), Charlotte Giddings (Brownie and the Bean), and Sarah Howick and Georgina Hammond (A Noble Gift) for doing both themselves and the #SBS community proud.
Darren Pirie, Head of NatWest Group Accelerator & Strategic Partnerships, said: “We are incredibly proud of our longstanding partnership with Small Business Sunday and are delighted to bring the Accelerator Pitch Competition to this vibrant community. Supporting the entrepreneurial spirit at #SBSEvent2026 and through our regional bootcamps allows us to empower small businesses to think big, innovate, and achieve sustainable growth. We look forward to working closely with these inspiring finalists and all participants as they take their businesses to the next level.”
The judging panel included Kypros Kyprianou, Katie Piper OBE, Michelle Prance (CEO, Mettle), and Dr Raphael Sofoluke (Founder & CEO, UK Black Business Show & UK Black Business Week), who commended all the finalists for their creativity and drive.
Powered by Community and Partners
The success of #SBSEvent2026 was made possible by the support of #SBS’s partners, including NatWest, Ryman, Robert Dyas, DHL, Spring & Autumn Fair, Hakim Group, Culbert Ellis, SumUp, FreeAgent, GS1 UK and Lifestyle.
As this year’s event wrapped up, the sense of connection and optimism was clear. Planning is already underway for #SBSEvent2027, promising another inspiring day for the UK’s small business community.
