More than a third of small businesses – including thousands of estate and letting agencies – are struggling to promote themselves to new customers, according to new research from HSBC UK.
With many agencies operating as lean, founder-led SMEs, the findings will ring true across the sales and lettings sector, where time and marketing budget are often squeezed by rising operational costs.
To help close the visibility gap, HSBC UK has launched a nationwide competition offering three small businesses the kind of brand exposure usually reserved for big consumer names: a bespoke promotional film fronted by Double Olympic Champion Dame Kelly Holmes and Irish rugby great Brian O’Driscoll (main pixture).
Crucially, the competition is open to all UK small businesses with fewer than 20 employees – meaning the majority of independent estate and letting agents qualify.
SMEs lack time and resources to promote themselves
HSBC UK’s research shows only 19% of SME leaders feel their business gets sufficient promotion.
Four in ten (38%) say they simply lack the time or resources to reach new customers, while over half (55%) still rely on word-of-mouth to drive growth.
For local agents who depend heavily on community reputation and repeat instruction, the opportunity to turbocharge brand visibility could be particularly powerful.
PROFILE BOOST
The HSBC UK Small Business Brand Ambassador Competition will be judged by Holmes, O’Driscoll and HSBC UK’s Head of Business Banking Tom Wood.
They will select businesses with a strong story, clear purpose and the potential for the prize to make a meaningful commercial impact.
Each winner will receive a professionally produced promotional film, co-starring the two sporting icons, showcasing their business and boosting credibility with new customers.
ENTRY DETAILS
The competition is free to enter and open to UK-based SMEs with fewer than 20 employees – a threshold that covers most boutique estate agents, independent lettings teams and hybrid operators.
Entries close midnight, Sunday 5 January 2026, with winners announced from 19 January, ahead of their Ambassador-for-a-Day experience in February.
More details HERE.
