Awards celebrate success stories of small businesses
SMALL firms must celebrate their success While it may not always be in our nature, Wales’ small businesses must be prepared to shout about their achievements. Wales is based on a small-business economy; there are currently over 250,000 private sector businesses in Wales, 94.9% of which are small businesses.
Therefore, it is incredibly important that we celebrate the contribution of SMEs in Wales.
We have been pleased to promote the FSB Awards in recent months. We have already seen a great number of applications from small firms across Wales which demonstrate just how much business in Wales has to offer.
With the deadline for applications closing later today, there is still time to put your name forward. The awards ceremony will then take place in Cardiff on February 6.
The awards are a great opportunity to highlight the work and contribution of your firm, and highlight the success stories from Wales’ thriving SME community that have taken place in recent years.
With 12 categories to choose from, there is something for everyone. There is an opportunity for businesses to demonstrate how they innovatively use the Welsh language in their business by nominating themselves for the Welsh in Business Award. This could be through introducing Welsh into the business or increasing its use, or by using it in a truly creative or innovative way.
Other award categories are Business Exporter of the Year, which offers the opportunity for a business to demonstrate its exceptional export achievements, which contribute to both the local and global economy.
Ethical – Green Business of the Year is the award which will recognise the most ethical, socially responsible or green business in Wales; I know that there are many SMEs undertaking groundbreaking work in this area.
As we know, Wales is based on a strong micro-business economy so we will be honouring Micro Business of the Year at the awards ceremony in February. There are so many micro-businesses in Wales which are punching above their weight, and this can include sole traders and single office/ home office businesses with fewer than 10 employees.
We will be looking for the best Start-up Business of the Year, which will celebrate those who have started a viable business in the past two years.
Meanwhile, the Scale-up Business of the Year award will feature those who have demonstrated true entrepreneurial spirit by taking their business to a new level.
Family firms are incredibly important in Wales, and I look forward to us recognising the best family-run firm in Wales.
We are also pleased to feature an award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year for anyone who is aged under 25 and represents the future of entrepreneurship in Wales.
Private sector employment in Wales is predominantly found in SMEs, and so we will hold an award for the Best Employer of the Year. This will recognise key employers that invest in developing their staff.
The Business and Product Innovation Award recognises the work of businesses with a bold new business model or innovative product that has delivered dramatic results.
Businesses in Wales are now often taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by digital innovation, and so we have included a Digital Award.
The awards ceremony will also be a great opportunity for networking and meeting other business-owners and Welsh stakeholders.
As 2017 draws to a close and we start to look ahead to 2018, I look forward to us celebrating the immense contribution that SMEs make to the Welsh economy and to Welsh life.
Janet Jones is head of the FSB Wales’ policy unit.