Have you got good news for us?
Amid all the bad news about the economy, the banks and business closures there are some small businesses out there bucking the trend.
The FSB has found some examples of positive statistics and achievements amongst its members of small businesses who are beating the recession.
Email the FSB if you have a success story.
>Customer service reigns supreme
A Swansea website developing company, Netbop, has won an Investors in People award for brilliant customer service.
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>Food for thought
Sussex food producer Bookham Fine Foods has been named as a Fine Food Supplier in a new Christmas cookbook by celebrity-chef Delia Smith.
Managing Director Rob Bookham with the publication
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>Over 100 not out!
Clothes shop WH Thomas and Son is now running for its 113th year. The family business, based in Gloucestershire, was first established in 1896 and is still owned by the same family.
>IT business celebrates a decade
Cheshire-based i7-technologies marks a decade in business this year. Its latest project involved installing a state of the art IT room in the old toilet block at a local school (pictured). |
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>Hotel of the Year
Swinton Park hotel in the Yorkshire Dales has been named 2009 Hotel of the Year.
It was also Highly Commended as one of the nominees for the Sustainability Award. |
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> Snap happy
Leicestershire based photographer Ian Pickering achieved an Award of Excellence in the Commercial Photography category at the 2009 Master Photography Awards.
(Left to right: Mike Osman, comedian. Ian Pickering, Stuart Grieb, sponsors Towergate insurance) |
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> Gaining from training
Family businesses Senate Training, based on the border of North Staffordshire and South Cheshire, won the ‘Contribution to Skills Development and Training Award' from Skills for Security, the sector skills body for the industry. |
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> Securing an industry award
Lancaster-based FGH Security has won the national award for Best Practice in Door Supervision at this year's Security Excellence Awards. FGH Security was nominated in five categories, ACS Champion of the Year, Security Guarding Company of the Year, Event Security Team of the Year, Contracts Manager of the Year and Best Practice in Door Supervision. (Image: Business Director Wesley Downham collecting the award on the night from none other then Ronnie Corbett.) |
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> A star in the making
Teeny Beanies recently won the £4,000 Shropshire Star idea award. Run from home by Textiles graduate Kerry Swinton, the bean bag toys are sold through shops in the UK and online as well as at local craft fairs and retail shows. |
> Keeping festivals ringing
Solwise telephony, a Midlands-based communications company, provided the broadband lines and other telecoms services at the Glastonbury festival in 2009. Their technology is also used at other summer festivals and events including the V Festival and the Chelsea Flower Show. |
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> 40 years in business
Associates and staff at Chartered Accountants Fish Partnership are celebrating 40 years in the business. Fish Partnership was founded by Brian Fish in High Wycombe in 1969. |
> Official recognition
Beacon Financial Limited based in Cambridgeshire has recruited three members of staff this year taking headcount to 14. Managing director Tony Larkins has been included in Oxford University Press' Who's Who directory. |
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> Sweeping the board
Flue and chimney systems supplier Specflue has recorded a 36 per cent increase in sales over the last year. The business is expanding by acquiring land adjacent to its existing premises in Suffolk to build the first chimney practical training centre within the UK. |
> Award winning!
CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds has barked at talk of an economic downturn by winning the 2009 Pet Product of the Year. The family-run dog food business, founded by Ceri Rundle (pictured) in North Wales, uses GM free ingredients manufactured in the UK. |
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> Sixty Years!
Thomson Cooper Accountants is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year. The Fife based business won the Best Medium Firm at the Scottish Accountancy Awards 2008.
From left to right (back row) Ian Swanson, Andrew Croxford, Brian Forrester, Mark Mitchell, David Walker, Alan Mitchell, Alan Thomson. Front row – George Atkinson, Fiona Haro |
> Increased turnover
Malcolm Watson purchased Leicestershire-based promotions agency the Marketing Worx in August 2007. He took its turnover to around £250k in the first full year of ownership and looks likely to hit £400k this year. He is also recruiting two new members of staff. |
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> Suits you sir
Michael Morris and his father set up Distinction Bespoke Tailoring in March 2008. The Cheshire business makes handmade suits and lists the Liverpool football team, darts player Phil Taylor and television presenter David Dickinson as clients. He current employs three members of staff and is looking to recruit at least three more in the next six months.(Pictured: Morris and Liverpool Manager Rafa Benitez) |
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> Big contract
pulse8, a design and internet agency situated in Devon, recently took on an extra member of staff taking its workforce to 10 and has recently landed its largest
client, the high street retailer, Timpson.