The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is beginning its search for the best small businesses in the West Midlands as entries open for the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2020. There are over 200,000 small businesses and self-employed people in the region.
Small businesses are being urged to enter before the closing date of 17 January 2020. There are twelve award categories this year, including the Wellbeing in Small Business Award, building on FSB’s successful work in advocating measures to improve wellbeing and mental health for the self-employed, small business owners and their employees.
Rich Bishop, FSB regional chair for the West Midlands said: “For a chance to be recognised as the best small business in the West Midlands, as well as in the whole of the UK, I’d encourage all small businesses to enter the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards. SMEs are a vital part of the West Midlands – contributing so much to the economy and making our region a more exciting place in which to live, work, study and visit. The awards give everyone the opportunity to join us in celebrating that.”
The 2019 West Midlands area winners included a care farm, an equine clinic and a serious games developer. The 2019 national UK FSB Business Product and Innovation award winners, Pharma Packaging Systems Ltd, came from the West Midlands.
The 2020 area winners for the West Midlands will be announced at an award ceremony on 6 March 2020 held at Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club in Meriden. These winners, with the exception of the Community Business Award which is area level only, will then go forward to the UK final of the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2020, held in London, on 21 May 2020.
The 12 FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2020 categories are:
- Wellbeing in Small Business Award
- Environmental Business of the Year
- Digital/E-commerce Business of the Year
- Sole Trader of the Year
- High Growth Business of the Year
- Micro-business of the Year
- Start-up Business of the Year
- Young Entrepreneur (aged 30 and under)
- Business and Product Innovation Award
- Family Business of the Year
- International Business of the Year
- Community Business of the Year (area level only)
Closing Date for each area South West – 10 January 2020 North West – 10 January 2020 East Midlands – 17 January 2020 West Midlands – 17 January 2020 London – 24 January 2020 Wales – 24 January 2020 North East – 24 January 2020 Scotland – 29 January 2020 South East – 7 February 2020 East of England – 7 February 2020 Northern Ireland – 7 February 2020 Yorkshire & The Humber – 14 February 2020
For further information and to enter the awards click here
