Local businesses celebrate 'Swindon Day'

'Swindon Day' - a day to celebrate Swindon’s Old and New Towns being joined by Queen Victoria - was celebrated again this month by local businesses.

In 2022 the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) launched Swindon Day on 22 January to mark the day Swindon’s Old and New Towns were joined by Queen Victoria.

Members of the FSB said it has been a great opportunity to highlight via social media the range of independent small businesses across the town.

This year the FSB team were pleased to extend the impact of their social media activity on 22 January by working in partnership with Swindon Borough Council’s business office and coworking space The Workshed.

The Workshed hosted a networking event for small businesses in the town on 24 January, which included a Swindon-based quiz hosted by the author of the Born Again Swindonian blog Angela Atkinson. Angela is also the volunteer Area lead for FSB in Swindon.

A spokesperson said of the quiz event: "Attendees were reminded that not only was the Hogwart’s express built in the GWR Works, but that Swindon has played host to the cricketer WG Grace, Buffalo Bill and Guiseppe Garabaldi over the years!"

To build on the Swindon theme, the proposed new Swindon flag created by Torin Clements was displayed and he also brought along a Swindon-badged cake for the quiz attendees to enjoy.

Additionally, Sir Robert Buckland MP joined the event to kick off proceedings via Teams from Parliament.

Quiz prizes were said to have been donated by Keeran and Vaani Vetriko from Neitiv, and Robert Hobbs from Four Friends Drinks, who make lemon flavoured Napo. Mirabelle Stobbs from The Workshed also donated a pen carved from the floor of the Carriageworks.

As the largest trade association for small businesses in the UK, FSB prides itself upon offering members a wide range of vital business services, support, and a powerful voice in Government. It also works locally to promote and support Swindon businesses.

Ruth Lambert, Development Manager with the FSB for Swindon and Wiltshire said: “Many small businesses are having a challenging time at the moment, so it was great to be able to offer an opportunity for people in the town to come together and celebrate all the good things Swindon has to offer. One of which is definitely the great range of small businesses working in and around the town.”