Michelle Ovens MBE is a small business enterprise expert who runs peak b, an organisation with a world class track record in the conception, management and execution of high profile, national campaigns particularly in the small business and enterprise sectors.
With a wealth of experience in business strategy, stakeholder relationship building, high-profile event management, digital marketing, public affairs, media and public relations, Michelle leads a team working closely with all areas of the economy: consumers and the general public, small business, big enterprise, central and local government, trade bodies, charities and the press.
Michelle’s background is in business strategy, running her own small business strategy consulting company post graduating with an MBA from London Business School.
Michelle has been Director of Small Business Saturday since it was first introduced in the UK in 2013. Small Business Saturday is an annual nationwide, not for profit campaign that promotes the UK’s small and micro-businesses. In 2016, 16 government departments, 40 ministers and over 80% of all local authorities covering the country actively supported the campaign in a variety of ways, from staging or supporting small business events to offering free parking. Positive consumer sentiment and support to small businesses was echoed through social media. Over 130,000 tweets were sent on the day itself reaching more than 140 million people, with Small Business Saturday UK trending globally.
Michelle’s other campaigns include Do It Digital, which promotes the benefits of greater digital engagement among small business; The Small Awards, which were established specifically to recognise the achievements of small and micro-businesses – the smallest and the greatest; and f:Entrepreneur.
Michelle was awarded an MBE for Services to Enterprise in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in the summer of 2015.
