With pledges of free places on sales courses, access to event space and help for businesses wanting to improve their marketing, the small business community has actively responded to the call of this campaign.

With more government cuts on the way and unemployment expected to rise, the campaign was launched by small business support company, Enterprise Nation, to show people they do have an entrepreneurial future and can become their own boss.

Pledges are in from companies such as O2, enterprise groups including Shell LiveWIRE and Harrow in Business, and small business owners who are coming forward to help others follow in their footsteps.

Amy Bould of Be Bold PR is a recent start-up herself and has pledged a specially designed PR service to help new business owners. Amy says:

"Having just left a job of 15 years to start my own business, I understand why other people want to do the same. I'm loving working for myself and on my own terms but it takes confidence to move from employment to self-employment so I want to support others make that move by helping them with PR. The Business in Bloom campaign seemed an ideal way to tell the nation what I can do to help!"

Allen Pluck is from enterprise agency, Harrow in Business, and recognises the importance of helping people grow their enterprise:

"Despite government and council funding cuts we are still providing advice, training, information and know-how to would be entrepreneurs and small businesses. We wanted to pledge support to this national campaign that will keep enterprise alive."

With media partner BusinessZone.co.uk and national agency network NFEA as an advocate, the campaign looks set to keep on growing. Enterprise Nation founder, Emma Jones, says:

"With an overall target to help 500,000 people realise their entrepreneurial ambitions in 2011, that's equal to helping just over 9,600 people per week. We will take count after the first month but with the support pledged so far we're confident of being on target. If we keep going at this rate, business will be booming and blooming in the UK!"

About Business in Bloom The Business in Bloom campaign has been launched to transform the lives of 500,000 people, by helping them start or grow businesses in 2011.

The campaign has been launched by small business support company, Enterprise Nation.

Research suggests that small businesses will contribute to the UK's growth and dynamism, but entrepreneurialism needs to be encouraged and supported.

Enterprise agencies, business support providers, corporate suppliers and small business owners are being asked to come forward and pledge support.

Enterprise Nation is pledging its support through a number of its own projects, including the Start-Up Kit (www.brightwordpublishing.com/startupkit), which includes "everything you need to start a small business", Bitsy "the friendliest business to business marketplace on the web" (www.bitsythis.com) and live events, this year in London and Manchester.

Follow the campaign on Twitter @e_nation, #ukbloom Pledge your support at www.businessinbloom.co.uk

Find out more about Enterprise Nation at www.enterprisenation.com

Please contact Emma Jones with any enquiries on: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 01743 272555 / 0789 9871698 @emmaljones