Small businesses will get the regional and national recognition they deserve

Successful small businesses have a chance to gain recognition on a regional and national scale in the 2019 Federation of Small Business Awards.

The race is on for Warwickshire businesses to emulate last year's rich crop of winners from the county.

In 2017, four awards came Warwickshire's way with Rugby-based Fancy Me named Employer of the Year (sponsored by Warwickshire County Council) while Concierge Medical, Warwick, was named Microbusiness of the Year, Hydro Veg Kits, Nuneaton, was Start-up Business of the Year and Southam's Find Me A Gift took the Digital Business of the Year accolade.

Applications are now open for small businesses to enter one or more of 11 categories in the FSB regional awards. The winners, from a broad range of categories will then go forward to the UK finals in London next May. There, as well as UK category winners, the overall FSB Small Business of the Year 2019 will be announced.

The awards are free to enter and open to all small businesses and the self-employed, whether or not they are current FSB members.

"Small businesses and the self-employed play a vital role in contributing to the economy and making our region a more exciting place in which to live, work and study," said Lee Osborn, development manager for Warwickshire and Coventry FSB.

"Leading a small business or being self-employed can be challenging and is often a thankless task. It can involve wearing many different hats at once on the journey to achieving success.

"Therefore it is important that these small businesses and the self-employed in the region are recognised. That’s why the FSB awards showcase the best small businesses from the length and breadth of the UK, from every sector and industry and from businesses of all ages."

The closing date for entries into the regional awards is January 4, 2019. For more details please visit fsbawards.co.uk.