A campaign to celebrate the hard-working advisers behind the success of the UK’s small business community has been launched on 1 November.
The Top 50 Adviser Awards will seek to recognise and highlight the important work done behind the scenes by expert individuals to improve the skills and performance of the smallest British businesses in order to create growth.
The awards, which are a collaboration between small business support group Enterprise Nation and global information services company Experian, are now open for nominations for advisers from all disciplines from IFAs to digital gurus and everything in between.
Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation said: “Business advisers are the unsung heroes behind Britain’s growing army of small businesses.“We want to show this important work in action, in order to help more small businesses to find a clear path towards the growth they want to see.”
A Government paper entitled The Report on Small Firms, 2010 to 2015 said: “The evidence demonstrates that small firms that take external help and advice are most likely to grow and maximise their contribution to the British economy. The challenge for Government has been to get the right support to the right businesses at the right time.”
According to the latest Government statistics there are 5.5m businesses in the UK – and an astonishing 5.3 million (96 per cent) employ 0-9 people. These businesses account for 32% of UK employment and 19% of turnover.
Emma added: “The smallest firms need advice just as much as the bigger ones. It’s clear there is a job of work to be done and we want to find out which business advisers are doing a good job and celebrate that success.”
Ian Graham, Head of Partnerships at Experian’s SME business, said: “Behind every successful small business is a network of specialists who know how to maximise an SME’s chances of thriving.“As their companies grow, the founders and senior staff at SMEs often take on a range of responsibilities which are outside of their usual field of expertise. These awards will highlight those who provide professional guidance to the engine of our economy.”
To take part, business advisers need to be either nominated by those they have helped, or nominate themselves giving evidence and testimonials. A panel of judges will then create a shortlist, which will then go to the public vote.
The Top 50 advisers will be announced in March 2018, with prizes contributed by Enterprise Nation and Experian, which will include technology, hardware, office space and sales coaching.
Applications can be submitted via the Enterprise Nation website
