This is exchanges of Goldman Sachs, where we discussed developments currently shaping markets, industries, in the global economy.

I'm Jake Seward, global head of corporate communications

here at the firm.

Since the onset of COVID, we've

been talking a lot about how small businesses

are fairing during the pandemic,

and today we'll focus that conversation on the UK.

Our 10,000 small business program there surveyed small business owners to better understand

how COVID has personally impacted them and their businesses and what their outlook is for the future.

To discuss that, I'm joined by Charlotte Keenan from our London office.

Charlotte leads the Office of Corporate Engagement, International Responsibility, and serves as global head of 10,000 women.

Charlotte, welcome to the program.

Thank you, Jake. I'm very excited to join you.

Charlotte, just give us a little bit of an overview of the 10,000 small business

program in the UK and how you've worked with small business owners particularly during

this period of the pandemic sure so 2020 is actually the 10th anniversary program here in the UK. We

launched it a decade ago with the rationale of supporting small business leaders across the country to create jobs and drive investment.

So to date, we now have over 1800 graduates of the program, our alumni community, with whom we work incredibly closely.

And to give you a sense of that demographic, their businesses that span all regions and nations of the UK, all sectors of the economy.

The average size is probably now 15 employees, 1.5 to 2 million pounds turnover and they've been trading for at least three

years when they start obviously now many of them much, much longer.

The one thing that really marks this demographic out is they're

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