The UK's 5.5 million small business owners are being urged to seek more support, as new data highlights the key areas where Britain's entrepreneurs require assistance, such as marketing, finance, and productivity.

Research conducted by Small Business Britain and Lloyds Bank reveals that while many business owners need help in multiple areas, almost half (44%) are reluctant to use free business support services.

Marketing is identified as the top priority, with 63% of business owners seeking help in this area.

Support for increasing social media presence (53%), business strategy (46%), and access to finance and funding (45%) also rank highly.

Emma Robson, owner of Stort Valley Gifting, benefits from branding and marketing support to enhance her bespoke gifting service.

Michelle Ovens CBE, founder of Small Business Britain, emphasizes the importance of aiding small businesses to drive economic growth, encouraging business owners to take advantage of available resources, particularly those offered by Small Business Britain and Lloyds Bank.

Keith Hunt, founder of Our Precious Earth, gained confidence to advance his business after finding webinars educational.

Jemma Waters, Head of Group Customer Inclusion at Lloyds Banking Group, highlights their partnership with Small Business Britain, providing small business owners access to free online learning resources through interactive webinars and the Lloyds Bank Academy.

This partnership offers a comprehensive support program, including webinars and workshops on topics like finance management, business branding, productivity hacks, and stress management, all of which are free and open to all small businesses.

Livi Parkins, owner of Wirral Whiskers, a cat-sitting service in Birkenhead, shares how these webinars have helped her network, connect, and gather practical information for her business.

The Lloyds Bank Academy serves as a free learning hub with resources to upskill businesses on various topics.

For more information, visit Lloyds Bank Academy.