County council retains Small Business Friendliness award

Warwickshire County Council yet again collected the Best All-round Small Business Friendliness award at the annual Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) local authority awards.

It is the third successive year, and sixth time in seven years, that the county council has won this award.

The awards, presented at the FSB’s annual ‘Small Business Engagement’ lunch, form part of FSB’s lobbying activity to ensure that, at every level of Government, entrepreneurs are viewed as potential wealth, growth and job-creators of the future.

Across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull, 97% of the 50,000 private sector businesses are small businesses, so it’s vital that everything possible is done to make it easier for them to thrive.

The Best All-round Small Business Friendliness’ award went to Warwickshire County Council while Stratford-on-Avon District Council collected the Best ‘Small Business Friendly’ campaign accolade. Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council took the Best ‘Small Business Friendly’ procurement policy and Marcus Jones (MP for Nuneaton) won the award for Best ‘Small Business Friendly’ MP.

As ever the overall small business friendliness award was difficult to judge, but the panel felt that Warwickshire County Council had again come up with innovative ideas to help small firms tackle skills shortages and increase apprenticeships which is having a direct impact on helping small businesses grow.

Cllr Peter Butlin, Deputy Leader of Warwickshire County Council  said: “I am delighted that Warwickshire County Council has won the overall business friendly award. We take great pride in putting the needs of small business at the heart of what we do and we recognise that the success of start-up and small business is critical if our economy is to continue to grow and prosper."     

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's award was for its inaugural Victorian Christmas Market, which was a great success for many small retailers despite adverse weather. The market attracted significant reach across the UK with people travelling great distances to attend.

Sandra Garlick, FSB Warwickshire and Coventry Area Lead said: “ As in previous years, we were again delighted this year with the range and strength of applications received and the quality of the schemes put forward. 

"The FSB fully believes in partnership working and we are proud to say that over the years in this region we have developed strong relationships with the business community, our local authorities and MPs.  We feel that working together we can have a greater impact on making our economy a better place and the awards help to share that best practice."