'Like Us' named amongst UK's 100 most inspiring businesses

A Teesside business, which has been involved in groundbreaking AI work to transform the management and delivery of economic growth across the UK and EU, is looking to make more national and international connections, after being named as one of the UK’s 100 most inspiring businesses by the Small Business Saturday campaign.

Business support agency ‘Like Us,’ which has headquarters in Teesside but clients all over the world, champions diverse business voices and is rooted in inclusion, accessibility and lived experience.

The firm, started by entrepreneur Shak Asghar in 2023, has also been praised by Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, who said Shak’s was a “local success story with national and international significance”.

The accolade and words of praise come after Like Us beat many well-established incumbents to win a single local contract with the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA). It now delivers strategic programmes supporting thousands of businesses all over the UK and internationally.

Speaking of his vision for Like Us, Shak said: “As a disabled entrepreneur from an ethnic minority background in Teesside, I wanted to build something that reflected and championed people from all walks of life – and the name Like Us came from that idea - we offer support designed by people like us for people like us.

“We are absolutely over the moon that our vision and the support we have already provided to tens of thousands of businesses has been recognised by the Small Business Saturday Campaign, which has kicked off its annual call to champion and support the nation’s favourite businesses.

“Our future plans include further national and international expansion, while staying rooted in our community-led values and championing diverse business voices to help deliver economic growth and prosperity.”

Like Us is named in this year’s SmallBiz100 line-up, which showcases the most innovative and admired small businesses across the nation, following a nationwide search.

It comes ahead of Small Business Saturday on December 6, which has been running for more than a decade and celebrates small businesses, whilst encouraging the public to support and spend with small firms.

Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday, said: “Firms such as Like Us in this year’s SmallBiz100 represent some of the UK’s most-loved small businesses.

“It is so important that we encourage public support for small businesses up and down the country, as many are still facing a host of challenges as they enter this critical final stretch of the year.”

From its Teesside base, Like Us supports small businesses across the UK and internationally through bespoke support programmes such as digital transformation clinics that enable them to take advantage of the latest technological advancements, as well as one-to-one mentoring for growth and scaling up, Innovation and funding advice around grants, loans and investments.

Like Us works in partnership with Local Authorities, Combined Authorities and charities, to ensure support reaches everyone, especially those who need it most – with a focus on businesses led by women, founders with both visible and hidden disabilities and ethnically diverse entrepreneurs.

Like Us also recently put on a large event called TechJam on Teesside, which brought together more than 1200 small businesses, founders, funders and experts to learn about technology in business, connect and share ideas in an inclusive setting.

Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, said: "From a base here in our town, Like Us delivers high-impact business support programmes across the UK and internationally, exemplifying the ambition and ingenuity that the Tees Valley is known for.

“Their groundbreaking AI work to transform the management and delivery of economic growth across the UK and EU shows exactly what can be achieved from a UK Digital Investment Zone like ours: innovation conceived and built in Middlesbrough, exported to the world.

“This is a local success story with national and international significance, and I’m proud to see it led from right here in our community.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sarah Walker .