WINTER 2019 ROUND-UP Celebrating regional enterprise The search is on again for the West Midlands most outstanding small businesses and selfemployed people. Entries are now being accepted for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSBs) Celebrating Small Business Awards 2020. ROUND-UP They are open to FSB members and nonmembers, and are free to enter and the closing date for entries is 17 January 2020. including the Wellbeing in Small Business Award. This builds on the FSBs work advocating measures to improve wellbeing and mental health for the self-employed, small business owners and their employees. There are more than 200,000 small businesses and self-employed people in the West Midlands, contributing to the economy and making the region a more exciting place to live, work, study and visit. The FSB awards are an opportunity to celebrate that. There are 12 award categories (see panel), AWARDS CATEGORIES n Wellbeing in Small Business n Environmental Business of the Year n Digital/e-commerce Business of the Year n Sole Trader of the Year n High Growth Business of the Year n Micro-business of the Year n Start-up Business of the Year n Young Entrepreneur (aged 30 or under) n Business and Product Innovation n Family Business of the Year n International Business of the Year n Community Business of the Year (area level only) Among the 2019 regional winners were a care farm, an equine clinic and a games developer, while Pharma Packaging Systems went on to win the national FSB Business Product and Innovation Award. The 2020 West Midlands winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held in the Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel and Country Club, Meriden, on 6 March 2020. The UK final will be in London on 21 May. Go to the awards website for further information and to enter. Credit: Karen Woolley, FSB development manager iStock.com / Stepan Popov Tread carefully Unsafe, secondhand car tyres and winter driving conditions can be a lethal combination. For more information, read the Business Companion guide to part-worn tyres. If you sell secondhand car tyres, you must comply with the Motor Vehicle Tyre Safety Regulations 1994. Under these, it is illegal to supply any partworn tyre that is capable of being fitted to a motor vehicle or trailer unless certain conditions are met regarding its markings and general condition. All types of part-worn tyre must be marked PART WORN, and any repairs to a tyre must comply with British standards. It is illegal to have unsafe tyres for sale in your possession. Credit: Bob Charnley, Trading Standards Consultant iStock.com / shayes17 For further information please contact your local Trading Standards Service