Wolverhampton firm named among UK’s top small businesses

The Gently Used Book Club is an online business based in Penn Fields that was let up during lockdown to save books from landfill.

Subscribers to the unique book club receive a hand-picked selection of second-hand books delivered to their door every month, saving them from otherwise being wastefully binned.

The company’s work has landed them a spot on the list of the nation’s 100 “most impressive independent firms” that is curated by the Small Business Saturday UK campaign.

Small Business Saturday falls on the first Saturday of December, which this year is today, December 7, and is dedicated to championing the county’s small businesses and encouraging people to shop local.

Owner of The Gently Used Book Club, Pat Austin, is delighted for the recognition of her hard work, which she said would not have been possible without support from Wolverhampton Council.

She said: “It makes me very proud to see my hard work recognised in this way and I’m so grateful to the team at Small Business Saturday for choosing my business to be part of their campaign.

“I could not have done this without the help and support of the business growth team at Wolverhampton Council, and the Black Country Growth Hub.”

Pat received a grant through the Black County Growth Hub which allowed her to set up a website for The Gently Used Book Club,

She also received business support through workshops and funding for new IT equipment from Wolverhampton Council.

Councillor Chris Burden, the Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills from Wolverhampton Council, said: “Pat is one of the many success stories – we pride ourselves on being an entrepreneurial city, and to think Pat established this business during lockdown and is now seen as one of the top 100 most impressive small firms in the UK by the Small Business Saturday Campaign is just incredible.

“I’m delighted our business growth team has been there to support her along the way.

“We’re determined to keep Wolverhampton’s business community vibrant and resilient by working with our local businesses and their employees, those who are self-employed, and those looking to start a business.”