Business Management zone

Unsung heroes of business support to be rewarded

Organised by small business support standards body SFEDI, the inaugural Enterprise Support Awards will mark the achievements of those who have done most to help start-ups, the self employed and home business owners survive and thrive.

During the event on 17 April at BAFTA's London headquarters, several prizes will be handed out to individuals who have gone out of their way to back the small business sector. Advisers, coaches, accountants and bankers will be rewarded as will family members, friends and other entrepreneurs.

Organisations are also to be celebrated as are inspirational television programmes, courses and books.

Among the supporters of the initiative are Lloyds TSB which is sponsoring the category which recognises the achievements of a large company, institution or government agency.

Stephen Pegge, the bank's head of communications, told BusinessZone.co.uk: "These awards are an opportunity to celebrate people who may be unsung heroes and publicise what they're doing so other people can learn from them. We thought that was a great idea and wanted to be a part of it."

Telecoms provider Redstone is another supporter of the awards. Chief executive Martin Balaam said the awards will demonstrate to the government the value of getting people who have been there and done it involved with business support services.

"There is much more that could be done to get like minded people together and stimulate more entrepreneurialism in the UK," he claimed. "Too often start-ups aren't given the early support that they need."

Dan Martin, editor of BusinessZone.co.uk, the sponsor of the award which celebrates business owners who have helped other company founders on the road to success, agreed.

"It's great to see those people behind the scenes who do so much to support the small business sector being recognised for once," he said.

"Many successful entrepreneurs are more than willing to pass on their words of wisdom to up and coming business leaders but it's very rare for their efforts to be recognised. The Enterprise Support Awards put that right."

BusinessZone.co.uk will provide full coverage of the awards later this week.