Summer 2018 FSB awards Entrepreneurs make an impression in London The FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards showcased 2018s most inspiring enterprises and products A dozen companies from the West Midlands attended the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards final in London, after triumphing in the regional competition in March. The ceremony was held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel on 3 May, and was hosted by impressionist and comedian Jon Culshaw. Surrey-based superfood brand Creative Nature beat off fierce competition from across the country to be named UK Small Business of the Year 2018. It also took the Scale-up Business of the Year title. About the FSB Owner and CEO Julianne Ponan has an extreme allergy to nuts, some seeds and certain additives. Her frustration at not being able to find healthy and tasty free from food products led her to develop and market her own range and she has achieved rapid success since launching her first product to more than 2,000 Co-op stores in 2017. The Federation of Small Businesses offers members a range of services, including advice, financial expertise, support and a powerful voice in government. Its aim is to help smaller businesses achieve their ambitions. Visit www.fsb.org.uk or follow the FSB on Twitter. Creative Nature now exports to Switzerland, Iceland, Jordan, Malta and Brunei, supplies major supermarkets, including Sainsbury and Asda, and has an annual turnover heading towards the millions. Mike Cherry, FSB national chairman and West Midlands business owner, said: The awards clearly demonstrate how small businesses are embracing and driving innovation, technology and ecology to drive the UKs export economy, inspire the next generation and, in many cases, help look after our planet. It is through supporting small businesses that well continue to lead the world in entrepreneurialism. There were around 2,000 entries to the 2018 Awards, with businesses taking part in 12 area competitions, across 12 award categories, in a bid to reach the national final. The West Midlands final was held at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham on 16 March, and the winners were announced by BBC broadcaster Dave Sharpe. The 2019 West Midlands awards will be launched in September so watch this space! 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Family Digital Business of the Year Community Start-up Business Business of the Year Champion Find Me A Gift, & Reeves, Southam Shrewsbury Voodoochilli Hydro Veg Kits, Design, Nuneaton Hereford Produces Founded at confectionery the start of the using millennium, 100 per cent withnatural two members ingredients of staff thatworking are free out from of gluten, a back gelatin and Ten palm years, oil.three The company moves, sellsweb to Harrods, ofofproducts the Houses andgardening, afirst lot of Parliament of happy With a nobedroom. strong background focus on in community manufacturing work, orthousands this experience design hydroponic companys client Sue was shop, customers and quality later, the delicatessens, company has and integrated owner Jacqueline itssupported digital Champion profile into isevery a guest element presenter Family Tonks created Drug Support, HydroVeg a small Kits in charity June 2017. that itThey has are a simple for way nearly to grow two healthy decades. 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Click numbers for more regional winners 1 2 3 4 2018 FSB UK Small Business Award winners: Exporter of the Year Wolffepack, London Business and Product Innovation Environmental Street Furniture, Antrim Ethical Green Business Rosewood Farm, York Scale-up Business and Small Business of the Year Creative Nature, Surrey Family Business Stablewood Leisure, Northumberland Digital Business Bambino Mio, Northampton Young Entrepreneur James Calderbank, The Transform Hub, Preston Micro Business Superlative Recruitment, London Employer Business Clan, London Start-up IGO Pets, Conisbrough, Doncaster Triumph Over Adversity Award ALD Life, London For further information, please contact your local Trading Standards Service