Gary Parsons, former CEO of Talk Staff, has been recognised as one of the UK’s 100 most notable small business owners by the Small Business Saturday UK campaign.

In 2009, Gary co-founded the people consultancy, Talk Staff, which has offices in Belper, Derby and Nottingham.

In March this year, Gary Parsons stepped down as the CEO of the business and became a non-executive director at the firm, as he decided to concentrate on leadership mental health and wellbeing.

Parsons, now a leadership mental health advocate and inspirational speaker, was selected for the SmallBiz100 line-up, which highlights independent businesses across the country in the run-up to Small Business Saturday on December 7.

Derbyshire-based Parsons’ personal journey began at 18 when he was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy, a condition that affected his confidence for years.

His work now includes speaking engagements, leadership workshops, and his podcast, “Leaders in Disguise.”

Small Business Saturday, a campaign celebrating small businesses, encourages consumers to support local enterprises every December.

He said: “I’m beyond delighted to be selected to continue this celebration of small businesses across the UK and the important part that they play in our growing economy. Naturally, I’m also going to use this platform to highlight the benefits and need for further mental health and wellbeing in this sector too.”

Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK, said: “It’s great to celebrate Gary Parsons as part of this year’s campaign. This year’s SmallBiz100 list shows the huge contribution small businesses make to their communities and the wider UK economy. Despite the economy turning a corner, the nation’s small businesses continue to feel the fallout of a challenging few years and still need significant support to get back on their feet. Small Business Saturday is all about getting the nation to come out in force and show its love for our local businesses.”