UK: TikTok Shop Launches £750,000 ‘Shop Local’ Scheme to Help 5 Small Businesses Grow Online. Apply by 13 November 2025.

If your business sells locally made products, TikTok’s newest initiative could be your chance to reach thousands of new customers without spending big on ads.

TikTok Shop has launched Shop Local, a £750,000 support programme to help small and medium-sized British businesses expand their online presence and bring local goods to a national audience.
Fronted by farmer and TV presenter Jimmy Doherty, the scheme will give five UK businesses a full package of expert support to start selling successfully on TikTok Shop.

The Push for Home-Grown Goods

            British shoppers love local and the numbers prove it. According to new research from TikTok Shop, 83% of people would buy more British-made products if they were easier to find, and three in four say they prefer to buy local whenever possible.

But despite this appetite, many small businesses are struggling to keep up. Over half say running their business feels harder than it did a year ago, and nearly one in three cite finding new customers as their biggest challenge.

That’s where the Shop Local initiative hopes to make a difference by helping businesses that make or grow British products find a bigger audience through the power of short-form video.

What the Scheme Offers

TikTok Shop’s £750,000 investment will be divided between five British small businesses, each receiving a tailored support package worth over £150,000.

The package includes:

• Step-by-step help setting up on TikTok Shop
• Expert mentoring and content training to boost sales
• Hands-on guidance on running TikTok Shop LIVE events
• Subsidised marketing and promotion across the app
• Connections with UK creators to help get the word out
• PR and visibility opportunities both on and off the platform

Doherty, co-host of Jamie & Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast and founder of Jimmy’s Farm, knows what it’s like to build a business from scratch. His own farm shop has recently joined TikTok Shop ,  a move he says has opened up an entirely new way to connect with customers.

“Our products have always been something people had to visit the farm to buy,” he said. “This marks our first real step into online selling and it’s exciting. The Shop Local scheme gives other small producers the same chance to take that leap.”

Why Small Businesses Should Pay Attention

TikTok Shop has already become a powerful e-commerce channel in the UK, with over 200,000 small businesses now selling through the platform. Each day, around 6,000 live shopping events take place, giving sellers a direct and authentic way to showcase their products.

            Unlike traditional online marketplaces, TikTok’s “discovery commerce” model means customers don’t need to search for your shop — they discover it naturally through engaging videos and live streams.
Even without a huge budget or massive following, your next bestseller can go viral on the For You page.

How to Apply

The Shop Local competition is open to all UK businesses that:

• Sell locally produced goods (at least 40% made or sourced in the UK)
• Have fewer than 250 employees
• Are not yet selling on TikTok Shop

To enter, simply create a short TikTok video showcasing your business, your products, or the impact you have in your local community. Include the hashtag #ShopLocalComp and tag @TikTokShop_UK, then submit your entry between 14 October and 13 November 2025.

Winners will be announced on 12 December 2025.

Visit TikTok Shop’s UK page to learn more about the Shop Local initiative.

Turning Local Makers Into National Brands with Safety in Mind

If you’re wondering whether TikTok Shop can really make a difference, just look at businesses like The Fat Butcher, The Chuckling Cheese Company, Dough Girl, and The Veg Box Company. They’ve built national recognition by showing what they do best and letting TikTok’s algorithm do the rest.

According to NielsenIQ, TikTok Shop was the fastest-growing online retailer in 2024, with a 131% rise in UK shoppers and an 180% jump in annual revenue. That kind of growth makes it hard to ignore, especially for small businesses that rely on visibility and community connection.

As you take your business online, remember: visibility also brings exposure to risks like scams, data leaks, and fake customer profiles.

Related: TikTok Shop for Small Businesses: How to Set One Up and Start Selling Safely *link to be added.

Whether you’re a local baker, craft maker, or family-run farm, TikTok’s Shop Local programme could help your products reach customers far beyond your postcode.
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