TikTok has announced the launch of its first-ever SME Council for TikTok-focused small businesses, which aims to amplify SME (small and medium enterprises) voices to policymakers and help them shape policies that boost growth.

Made up of 20 businesses, SME Council members use the platform to engage with customers in new and authentic ways. Beyond straightforward transactions, they connect with people through LIVE Shopping on TikTok Shop, selling via shoppable ads, and telling their brand's story through organic content, blending the convenience of online shopping with joyful, real-life experiences at scale.

The Council will also provide valuable insights and learnings to help shape the first-ever TikTok SME Manifesto. This will make a set of practical, proactive policy requests to the government with the aim of turbocharging SME growth, developing skills and encouraging entrepreneurship.

The TikTok SME Council:

• Barbara-Anne McMullan and Ruth Armstrong are the founders of Ooh and Aah Cookies @oohandaahtiktok, a Northern Irish business which specialises in handmade, personalised giant cookies and cookie sharing boxes.
• Matt Slack is the owner of E.V. Slack & Sons @slackys1, a fifth-generation family butcher in Doncaster, known for its commitment to high-quality meat and traditional butchery techniques.
• Dominique Bogle Khan, founder of Hair Anatomy @hairanatomyuk, set up her own affordable luxury wig brand after experiencing hair loss triggered by alopecia.
• Rachel Spence is the founder of Bear Burners @bearburners, an artisan candle and wax melts company founded in Jarrow and now based in East Bolden.
• Sumayah Saadi @by.sumayah runs a modest clothing line that has amassed a community of hundreds of thousands on TikTok.
• Laura Schmidt is the founder of Lovendu @lovendu, a Stafford-based business which specialises in journals and planners for mental health and self-empowerment.
• James Leinhardt is the founder of Levitex @levitex, who offers practical tips on sleep posture. James, an honorary lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, credits TikTok with enabling him to make a positive difference to the lives of millions of people in the UK.
• Jacob and Harley Nelson also known as the Spud Bros @thespudbrothers, have become viral sensations for their famous baked potatoes in Preston, Lancashire, leading to customers travelling from as far as the USA and Australia.
• Rusty's Collectables @rustyscollectables is a Redditch-based business which offers a wide range of trading cards, including Pokémon, Marvel, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh. Its TikTok content includes LIVE unboxings, product reviews, and tips for collectors.
• Gemma Stocks is the founder of The Herbal Dog Co @herbaldogco, which provides an animal-centric range of lotions and potions for any size or breed of dog.
• Big Boss Toys @bigbosstoysale is an Essex toy store specialising in action figures, statues, and collectibles from popular franchises like Marvel, DC Comics, Transformers, and Star Wars.
• The Chuckling Cheese Company @chucklingcheese offers a variety of artisan cheeses, cheese hampers, and other gourmet food products.
• George Robinson's success on TikTok has allowed him to grow his Devon-based confectionery business SoSweet @sosweetshopuk, opening nine physical shops and creating jobs for 70 local employees.
• Paul Sherratt's goalkeeper glove care brand GloveGlu @gloveglu has been viewed hundreds of millions of times by football fans around the world.
• Nicola Swann is the founder of Made with Mud @madewithmudpottery, a pottery and ceramics business based in a charming home studio in Lincolnshire.
• Luxe Collective @luxecollective is a resale platform that brings coveted pre-owned luxury pieces straight to your wardrobe.
• Virgo Boutique @virgoboutiques is a London-based online fashion retailer offering trendy clothing, footwear, and accessories.
• Eva Malley, founder of Eva Malley Art @evamalleyart, sells an eclectic array of art prints and accessories, despite having no previous experience in business.
• Kerri Buckwell @kbhairextensions, and her collaborators at Holloway Wright Hair Salon have used their videos on Kerri's account to build a hairdressing business.
• Naz Bashir founded her dermatologically-approved natural skincare business Solo Skin London @soloskinlondon, after years of searching for products that would help her with her sensitive skin.

For more information, visit tiktok.com.