eBay has unveiled an investment programme and regional roadshow, designed to help small online businesses navigate rising inflation and the impact of the pandemic.
eBay is investing over £1m to ship a year-long assist programme, visiting 12 cities and cities within the subsequent 12 months and anticipating to succeed in hundreds of small companies by the top of March 2023.
The roadshow and investment programme are intended to offer small businesses the skills, funding and networking opportunities to launch or scale their operations, aiming to reach thousands of businesses by the end of March 2023.
Businesses will also be able to access grants at each stop on the roadshow.
The online marketplace has partnered with Small Business Britain and British Chambers of Commerce to deliver the roadshow, alongside business organisations and experts specific to each region who can provide hyperlocal advice.
Ongoing access to networking, skills and training via its online learning tool, eBay Academy, will also be provided throughout.
According to new research from eBay, 69% of small businesses say that for the first time ever, they are facing inflationary pressures across all parts of their business – from supply chain, to energy, to wages and rent – which is having an adverse effect on skills and training.
In addition, 47% said that a lack of investment is preventing business growth, and over a third of those who needed to recover said that a lack of investment would force them to let people go.
