By Sarah Walker
1 October 2025
Firm which started in the Tees Valley with a single contract is now helping small businesses across the UK and Europe
A Teesside headquartered business support agency that champions diverse business voices and is rooted in inclusion, accessibility and lived experience, has been named as one of the UK’s 100 most inspiring businesses for 2025, by the Small Business Saturday campaign.
Like Us was started by entrepreneur Shak Asghar in 2023. It beat many well-established incumbents to win a single local contract – and now delivers strategic programmes supporting thousands of businesses all over the UK and internationally.
Services and advice offered by Like Us include themes such as Innovation, digital adoption, growth, mentoring and funding advice.
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 was 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 a couple of months 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: “Small businesses are the nation’s favourite businesses – bringing immeasurable value to our local communities and powering the wider economy.
“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.”
The judges of the SmallBiz100 recognised the work Like Us does to support other businesses and the local community, including the practical support it provides, which enables other small businesses across Teesside, the UK and EU to grow.
From its Teesside base, Like Us supports small businesses across the UK and internationally through bespoke designed programmes of support 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 innovated the business support event format by putting 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.
Shak said: “Every part of our work is shaped around creating opportunity, visibility and lasting support for the businesses that form the backbone of our economy.
“Our aim is to see communities thrive by equipping businesses with tools and belief in their own potential.”
He added being part of the SmallBiz100 was a “celebration” of everything Like Us stands for.
“We want to use this platform to amplify the voices of the communities we serve and represent,” he said.
“As a disabled entrepreneur from a multicultural background in Teesside, I built Like Us to show that inclusive leadership and lived experience can create real success and help to deliver economic growth.
“This platform that we have been given is enabling us to tell our story and inspire others who may not always feel seen in business spaces.
“It will also give visibility to the incredible small businesses we support across the UK, many of whom are often overlooked and excluded by the ones with the remit to help and support them.”
Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign that was originally founded by American Express in the U.S in 2010. American Express remains the campaign’s principal supporter.
Dan Edelman, general manager, UK Merchant Services at American Express, said: “Through our long-standing support of Small Business Saturday, American Express is proud to champion the nation’s small businesses.
“Congratulations to this year’s SmallBiz100, which once again showcases the incredible vibrancy and innovation of small firms and the valuable contribution they make to local communities.”
Billions of pounds is expected to be spent with the small businesses featured in the SmallBiz100 on Small Business Saturday.
It is hoped that this will have an impact that lasts the whole year around.
Many small businesses take an active role in promoting the day by hosting events and offering promotions.
Like Us aims to make the most of Small Business Saturday by inviting entrepreneurs to share their journeys and putting on practical advice clinics to help businesses with funding, growth and technology.
The team at Like Us will connect founders with ideas, tools and networks they might not otherwise access, in the interests of economic growth, inclusion, community and connection.
Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, said he was delighted to congratulate Shak Asghar and his Middlesbrough-founded group on being named among the UK’s Top 100 SMEs.
“From a base here in our town, they deliver high-impact business support programmes across the UK and internationally, exemplifying the ambition and ingenuity that the Tees Valley is known for,” said Mr McDonald.
“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.”
To learn more about Small Business Saturday’s SmallBiz100, visit https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com
ENDS
Press release issued by SASS media Ltd on behalf of Like Us.
For more information, call Sarah Walker on 07896 894538.
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