76 Sustainability Report 2021 Inclusive Growth | Leveraging Partnerships Launching a Workforce Solution: 10,000 Small Businesses Fellows Pilot Nearly 90% of small business owners report difficulty in recruiting qualified candidates for roles in their business 1 . To address this challenge, we launched 10,000 Small Businesses Fellows in 2021, a pilot program to connect more than 250 talented community college students with 10,000 Small Businesses alumni for paid internships. “ 10,000 Small Businesses Fellows was pivotal in helping us make big steps for our business, and I cannot thank Goldman Sachs enough for the opportunity.” TED HILL Life Benefits, Dallas, TX 10,000 Small Businesses Graduate and Fellows Host 10,000 Small Businesses in France and the UK In December 2021, we synthesized insights from one thousand of the UK’s small business leaders and 10,000 Small Businesses UK to create the Engines of Growth report. This report gives a high-level look at small businesses’ contributions to the UK economy and 10,000 Small Businesses UK alumni’s success amid the COVID-19 recovery. In 2020, 10,000 Small Businesse s France launched, and since then, we have welcomed three cohorts — engaging over 200 small businesses. After graduating, participants become part of the alumni community and receive ongoing support through events, coaching, and exclusive access to the global 10,000 Small Businesses community. 10,000 SMALL BUSINESSES U K G R ADUATES LED PANDEMIC-RESILIENT BUSINESSES 47% Of alumni increased the number of people they employ since the start of the pandemic, compared with only 26% of their high-growth peers. 48% Of alumni increased their revenue in the last 12 months, compared with 31% of similar high-growth businesses. 26% Of alumni increased their revenue by more than 20% from the previous year. INCLUSIVE GROWTH 1— 10,000 Small Businesses Voices: “ Survey: The COVID Surge is Slowing the Road to Recovery ,” September 2021.