Highlands doing the public proud at FSB Scotland Celebrating Small Business Awards 2023
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Five Inverness area-based companies have been shortlisted for six Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Scotland Awards
The total for the "Celebrating small business awards" this year marks a record for this area.
And on Wednesday March 8 these businesses will join the 64 others from right across Scotland vying for the 12 awards titles at the FSB Scotland celebrating small business awards 2023 lunch in Glasgow’s voco Grand Central Hotel.
First Aid Training Co-operative has been shortlisted for the micro-business of the year award.
Based in Nairn, it provides public first aid training courses at venues across the UK and private courses wherever required
Highland Campervans has been shortlisted twice: for the service excellence award and the larger small business award.
It offers campervan, motorhome and caravan sales, hire and servicing from its base at Dalcross.
Also a finalist in the larger small business category is teclan, which is a marketing agency in Tore.
Meanwhile, Planit Scotland has been shortlisted for the service excellence award.
Inverness-based Planit Scotland provides a wide range of services from event management to project management, social media management, marketing, PR, website design, print and design and more.
RedBeard Productions, an Inverness-based video production company, has been shortlisted for the self-employed/freelancer of the year.
And Otello Calvert of Tagliotello has been shortlisted for the young entrepreneur award.
Inverness-based Otello sells pasta-based street food from his trailer in Inverness and across the Highlands
Wishing all five shortlisted businesses well, the Federation of Small Businesses’ Highlands and Islands development manager, David Richardson, said: “It’s really good to see so many outstanding businesses from the Inverness area being shortlisted for our national awards – and what an interesting range of businesses it is too.
“I’m really looking forward to supporting them in Glasgow on Wednesday the 8th, but win or lose, we should all be immensely proud of them, for the owners of these businesses all have one thing in common: they are all highly committed, hard-working and entrepreneurial, and they all make a real difference to the local economy.
“Best of luck to them all.”
About the awards categories:
Larger small business of the year
This award celebrates the larger small businesses who have expanded to 10-100 full and/or part-time employees. Judges will be looking for businesses that have demonstrated strong revenue, whilst retaining their service level standards and employee retention records.
Micro business of the year
This award celebrates micro businesses punching above their weight for businesses with 9 employees or less. Judges will be looking for businesses that have demonstrated strong revenue growth and a product or service of a quality that stands above competitors.
Self-employed/freelancer of the year
This award recognises freelancers and the self-employed and celebrates the tenacity and drive it takes to go it alone. Judges will be looking for you to demonstrate considerable progression, a sound business plan and a sense of purpose for their future. Judges will be looking for the self-employed who has shown consistent growth backed by a strong financial performance, while demonstrating a clear understanding of the markets that they operate in.
The sustainability award
This award is designed to recognise the most ethical, socially responsible, or green business. Judges will be looking for businesses that can highlight their main sustainability achievements, demonstrate how they have made an invaluable contribution to their business, and showcase how they are helping to drive wider progress in the green economy.
Service excellence award
Small businesses able to demonstrate how they have gone above and beyond to deliver first-class customer service. The judges will be looking for how you have approached meeting and exceeding their customers’ expectations.
Young entrepreneur of the year (aged 30 and under)
This award is for entrepreneurs aged 30 or under who have demonstrated the traits to achieve a level of business success that belies their age. Judges will be looking for young entrepreneurs that have seized the opportunity to establish their own business and are passionate for progress. This entrepreneur will be a beacon of inspiration to businesspeople, irrespective of age and industry.
