FSB launches British Small Business Champions 2008

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) today launches British Small Business Champions 2008 (BSBC) to coincide with the start of Enterprise Week. BSBC is the only national awards scheme solely for small businesses.

Entries are invited from thriving businesses that are well run and highly regarded by staff and customers. Businesses have to have been trading for at least five years at the time of entering and employ no more than fifty staff. Across the UK, six Area Champions will be chosen and these six businesses will go forward to the national final. One business will be chosen as the National Champion and scoop the top prize of £10,000.

For BSBC 2008 there are two additional categories: Young Entrepreneur and Most Promising New Business, both sponsored by AIMS Accountants. These have been chosen as a way for the FSB to show support for the new generation of up-and-coming businesses. Entries in both will go straight to national judging.

BSBC was launched by the Federation of Small Businesses in 2002. It is now firmly established as the most prestigious and highly valued of business awards for the small business sector.

What former winners say about BSBC:

“Entering BSBC is a good exercise for you and your business. It makes you focus on what is good about your business.and helps you identify any weaknesses. I hate forms. Running a small business we have so many.

The BSBC one was pretty straightforward.”

Graham Barnard, The Happy Hutch Company, BSBC National Champion and Northern Area Champion 2007.

“The process of entering BSBC was a fantastic challenge because it makes you examine your business and ultimately improve the way you work. Winning was fabulous, not only for us but for our staff, who are thrilled to be part of an award-winning company.

Rachael Webb, Playforce, BSBC Southern Area Champion 2007.

“Since winning my company has a leading edge over competitors, which in turn has made us more popular with customers, as we have been recognised for customer service and for the many who buy at a distance, have been verified as a properly established company. Our competitors can compete on price and lead-time. But they cannot compete with our BSBC award!”

Sarah Green, 1st For Furniture, BSBC Central Area Champion 2007.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. The prizes for BSBC 2008, which is free to enter and not exclusive to FSB members, are: £1,000 each to the Area Champions, the Young Entrepreneur and the Most Promising New Business, to be spent in the way winners wish as long as it benefits their business. The National Champion’s prize includes a cash award of £10,000, also to be spent in a way that benefits their business.

2. To request an entry form and for more information about BSBC 2008 please contact Judith Francis on 020 7592 8120 or at judith.francis@fsb.org.uk. Please state which award you are applying for and give your business address.

3. Small businesses employ 58% of the private sector workforce, contribute over 50% of UK GDP and make up more than 99% of all UK businesses.

4. The FSB is Britain’s biggest business organisation with over 210,000 members. It exists to protect and promote the interests of the self-employed, and all those who run their own business. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk.

Contacts:

For media inquiries please contact Gillian Winstone on 07920 846694 or at gillianwinstone@btinternet.com.