British Small Business Champions 2007 launched

15th November 2006

Nominations are now invited for the 2007 British Small Business Champions awards (BSBC). They are the only national awards exclusively for small businesses and their aim is very simple - to celebrate the achievements of and give recognition to UK small
businesses.

There are a number of ways to get an entry form, and find out more about BSBC 2007. Interested businesses can go to
www.fsb.org.uk/bsbc , where the application form can be downloaded, or they can telephone 07901 795045, or e-mail bsbc[AT]fsb.org.uk.

BSBC was launched in 2003 because the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) felt that although there were already dozens of business awards schemes, none focused solely on small businesses.

BSBC 2007 invites entries from thriving, established (trading for more than five years) businesses that are well run, highly regarded by staff and customers and preferably involved in their local community. They do not have to be a member of the FSB.

Past BSBC finalists are adamant that winning really did help their business.

Anna Sinclair, Managing Director of the Ceramic Experience, a regional finalist said:

"Winning the award from such a highly regarded body as the FSB gave me and my staff huge recognition. We have used our title to great effect and have found that winning it gave us a higher level of respect among Scotland's business community."

Heather Gorringe, Managing Director, of Wiggly Wigglers, last year's British Small Business Champion 2006 said: "Using the title on the company's letterhead and publicity material is a real door-opener particularly for export."

Winning has also led to invitations from business organisations for Heather to speak at their events and she says that "It was BSBC that gave me the personal confidence to speak in public. "

Every entry will be allocated to one of six geographical regions - Central, North, South, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - and each will have an awards dinner to which the regional finalists will be invited and where the overall regional Champion will be announced. These six will go forward for national judging. All finalists will be invited to the national awards celebration dinner in London where one will be announced as the British Small Business Champion 2007.

For the first time BSBC is offering additional award categories - manufacturing, retail, services, innovation, ethical business and young entrepreneur (the five year trading rule does not apply to young entrepreneur) and there will be a regional and a national
finalist for each category.

Carol Undy, National Chairman of the FSB said: "These awards have become the highlight of the small business calendar and I am very much looking forward to meeting the finalists. With small firms employing over half the UK private sector workforce it has never been more important to recognise their successes."

The closing date for entries to BSBC 2007 is 31 January 2007. Regional judging will be in February with regional finals in March and April. The national category winners and overall BSBC Champion will be announced on 12 June.