Gosport tailor and Clanfield wellness clinic back UK Small Business Week
Two growing firms are adding their voices to a week that promotes small businesses
Two Hampshire business owners are backing UK Small Business Week after building respected local companies rooted in craftsmanship, wellbeing and community support.
Tin Trousers in Gosport and Advance SRM Therapies in Clanfield are supporting UK Small Business Week (https://entrepreneurscircle.org/sbw/), the nationwide initiative launched by entrepreneur Nigel Botterill and backed by Entrepreneurs Circle to recognise the contribution small businesses make to local communities and the wider economy.
Gosport-based Tin Trousers began more than 21 years ago as a small tailoring business operating from a spare bedroom.
Today, the female-led company specialises in military tailoring, ceremonial uniform work and medal mounting for members of the Armed and Uniformed Services across the UK.
Operating from Gosport Marina, the business has worked on major ceremonial events including the King’s Coronation and the upcoming Royal Marines Colours presentation to HM The King.
Founder Erin Sutcliff said the business had grown steadily through reputation, craftsmanship and persistence.
“It’s definitely been built the old-fashioned way,” she said. “There have been plenty of long hours, a lot of hard work and probably too much chocolate, but we’re incredibly proud of what the team has created.”
Everything is carried out in-house in Gosport by a local team whose combined tailoring experience totals more than 125 years.
Meanwhile in Clanfield, husband-and-wife team John and Jess Hughes have grown Advance SRM Therapies from a garage-based startup into a respected multi-room wellness and therapy clinic employing additional local therapists.
After moving to the area with no local connections or customer base, the couple built the business gradually through word of mouth and community involvement.
Alongside running the clinic, they helped launch the Clanfield Challenge running event, created free online mobility sessions during Covid and established a local business network to help independent firms collaborate and support one another.
John Hughes said smaller businesses often become deeply connected to the communities around them.
“When you build something locally, it becomes about far more than just business,” he said.
“It’s about helping people, supporting the area around you and creating relationships that genuinely matter.”
Advance SRM Therapies has also supported a range of local wellbeing and community initiatives including Maddy’s Mark, combining women’s rugby and community fundraising.
Nigel Botterill, founder of UK Small Business Week and Entrepreneurs Circle, said:
“Small businesses are often built quietly over many years through hard work, trust and deep local relationships. UK Small Business Week is about recognising those businesses and celebrating the people behind them who help keep communities thriving.”
UK Small Business Week runs from 1 to 7 June and will see businesses across the country taking part in local events, social media activity and community campaigns celebrating independent firms and entrepreneurship.