BUSINESS FOCUS: Does your small Highlands business have what it takes to be a winner?
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Whatever 2023 has been like for you, we all hope to start the next year on a high, and if you own a business here is something that will help you to do just that: entering yourself in our FSB UK Celebrating Small Business Awards 2024.
Why would you want to to do that? Well, when things are going well there’s much to celebrate, and when times are hard the only way is up – and in either case there’s nothing better than winning one of our awards!
And the Highlands punches way above its weight when it comes to winning, producing two overall FSB UK Small Business of the Year winners in the past five years: Cruise Loch Ness and Woodlands Glencoe.
And given that the region is home to less than 0.3 per cent of the UK’s business population, two in five is clearly no coincidence.
No, doing business here is far from easy, and it takes special people to set up and run the amazing array of fascinating businesses that we have in the Highlands – people who really do want to live here and who are extremely hard-working, dedicated, entrepreneurial and innovative, with can-do attitudes and the determination to succeed.
But if you are frantically busy, why spend precious time entering?
Well, the process isn’t arduous and it is very instructive, requiring you to consider what you do, why you do it, what works, what doesn’t, and so on.
This analysis alone can lead your business down exciting new avenues.
And the rewards for winners can be great. Great PR – award winners stand out from the crowd, and it boosts morale, both yours and your team’s.
Judges look for well organised, managed and marketed businesses run by innovative and creative owners who are passionate about delivering great customer service.
Sounds like you? Then please enter!
Entries for our FSB UK Celebrating Small Business Awards 2024 open on Monday, January 8 and close on Sunday, February 11.
If you are not sure how to go about it, we have organised a special webinar on January 8 between 11am and noon.
There is more information on all of this here
David Richardson is regional development manager with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
