SMALL businesses are celebrating and supporting the NHS as part of a Theo Paphitis lead initiative.

The #NHS70 campaign was created by Small Business Sunday (#SBS) winner Nigel Richardson of Secret Hamper.

SBS is a weekly initiative set up by the Dragon's Den mogul back in 2010 and now has over 2200 winners and supports small businesses in the UK.

Nigel Richardson said: "The aim of the #NHS70 project is to invite businesses, celebrities and individuals throughout the UK to recognise and celebrate 70 years of the NHS. Recognising the wonderful care given by the unsung heroes working at all levels within the organisation by sponsoring bespoke hampers to say a big thank you for dedicating their lives caring for others."

The group of businesses, including Southampton’s very own The Gift Fox, have contributed towards sponsoring 70 hampers for the staff at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital (RMCH). The Gift Fox is run by Debra Bradshaw who won the award in February this year.

Nigel said: "RMCH was always going to be on our list but how special would it be if that specific delivery was just made up of SBS winners? With it also being RMCH’s 10th Birthday too. It was like it was meant to be!”

Theo has supported RMCH over the last 10 years and created "The Many Hands Campaign" to encourage businesses to fundraise back in 2017.

“Theo has given so much to small businesses over the years who are part of SBS, some of which have had life changing opportunities. When I realised that this year saw his 60th Birthday I knew we had to do something special, but what do you get a multimillionaire?” Nigel added.

A big delivery of hampers will be made to RMCH on Wednesday October 30 at 1pm with generous donations coming from England, Scotland and the South of France.

Once the hampers are delivered, the contents are shared out and can reach 1000s of staff, giving the morale in the hospital and wards a real boost.