Devon firms dominate regional business awards nominations

Nearly 20 businesses and individuals from Devon have helped the county lead the way in the shortlist for the biggest awards contest for small businesses in the South West.

The regional FSB ‘Celebrating West Small Business Awards’, which will culminate at a final in Weston-Super-Mare early in March, has seen a near record-breaking amount of entries across 12 categories for both individual business owners and SMEs and Devon has secured the highest amount of nominations in the region.

The businesses shortlisted from Devon were the Devon Seaweed Company of Newton Abbot (nominated for three awards),  Okehampton Community Kitchen, The Techout (Barnstable), previous winners Cofton Holidays (Dawlish), Service Design Solutions (Plymouth), Nina Westwood (from MINSKI, Plymouth), Peter Betteridge Furnishers (Kingsbridge), Next Steps Tutors (Bideford), Smart Draining Age Limited (North Tawton), The Binge Box (Barnstable), Intellek (Newton Abbot), Simon Hall Will Writing (Exeter), Rowe IT (Plymouth), Wightmore School of Dance (Tiverton), Exim Dance Company CIC (Plymouth), Community Horizons CIO (Plymouth), Devon and Cornwall Furniture Reuse Company (Plymouth) and Joanne Manville Virtual Assistant (Newton Abbot),.

The county’s nominees will hope to follow in the footsteps of Cofton Holidays  who scooped the title as FSB South West Best Family Business in 2022 and Topsham’s  Rebecca Seeley Harris from Re Legal Consulting Ltd who won the prized FSB South West Self Employed/Sole Trader of The Year award last year.

FSB South West Regional Chairman, Lee Nathan, said that the standard of entries was ‘exceptional’ and he expected some fantastic winners to be unveiled  at the regional final.

“Every year we are both amazed and delighted to see the quality and quantity of South West businesses who enter our awards. It is further proof – if any was needed – that this region is an exceptional one for innovative, creative and progressive small businesses.”

Mr Nathan also thanked all the sponsors who have made the event possible including Reach plc, NatWest, Tyl by NatWest, Aldermore, FSB Insurance, Weston College, Renishaw, Lexus Bristol and Gravity.

For more details see www.fsbawards.co.uk