Celebrating Small Business Awards

The winners of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Celebrating Small Business Awards for the West Midlands have been announced following a ceremony at RAF Cosford. The ceremony saw two Warwickshire based businesses collect awards with 12 categories being awarded in total to small firms from across the West Midlands.

Nuneaton based Nomad HR and Recruitment Ltd won West Midlands Community business of the year for the work they do in investing in the community through donations and pro bono work. This includes hundreds of hours of free mentoring to a youth homeless charity and helping to create opportunities for young people in the areas of employment, training and homelessness across Warwickshire.

Following the award Amy Foster, Founder of Nomad said she was delighted to win the Community category. “This type of recognition from an expert panel of judges is priceless for a small business such as Nomad. It’s already extremely rewarding to help disadvantaged young people into employment, and see them flourish when given a chance, but this award is like the icing on the cake. The FSB has been very supportive over the years and I look forward to working with them to achieve further successful outcomes in the future”

Stratford-on-Avon based Hoorays Gelato Kitchen Ltd won the Family Business of the Year Award. Hoorays is the brainchild of mother and daughter team, Sara and Sasha Young. After being inspired by the different sights, experiences and tastes they discovered on their travels they decided to set up a new family gelato business on their return to the UK. The independent business opened in 2013 and make all its gelato ice cream on site in the kitchen at the Stratford Upon Avon shop.

Other West Midlands winners were:

  • Micro Business of the Year – Inkberrow Physiotherapy and Acupuncture
  • Exporter of the Year – OLPRO
  • Business and Product Innovation Award – Groovy Timber
  • Sustainability Award – Euro-Matic UK Ltd
  • Larger Small Business of the Year – Legionella and Fire Safe Services
  • Young Entrepreneur – Bethany Tomlinson from Lyfbar
  • Start-up Business of the Year – Madeleys First Aid Plus
  • Service Excellence Award – Good2Great
  • Diversity and Inclusion Award – T & J Scents
  • Self Employed / Sole Trader Award – Redhill Holidays

Sue Tonks, FSB West Midlands Regional Chair said “Hearty Congratulations to all this years award winners at the West Midlands FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards. The winners reflect the vibrancy, innovation and tenacity that makes up our local small business community. Business is challenging at the moment and while many businesses are focusing on their day-to-day operations, its essential that we celebrate success. That’s what these awards are all about. It’s been inspiring to see the sheer scale and diversity of those who entered and best of luck to all our regional winners representing the West Midlands at the UK national finals in May”.

 

The FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards celebrate the best small businesses from the length and breadth of the country, offering national recognition for those who have made the biggest impression over the last 12 months. Twelve area awards finals take place between February and April, with the UK final taking place at a VIP attended awards ceremony in May in Birmingham. The West Midlands area category winners, with the exception of the community award, will go through to the UK final.