An entrepreneurial joiner who has grown a thriving restoration business – after a light-bulb moment when he found and rescued a door from a skip in 2014 – has been awarded ‘Small Business of the Year’ at The Small Awards.
Joseph Holman, founder of ‘Green Doors’, who turned his passion for salvage and restoration into a business employing now 25 people – was awarded by writer, actor, and comedian Sue Perkins, at the awards ceremony in London.
Holman said: “We are so overwhelmed to win tonight at The Small Awards, not just once, but two different awards – Net Hero and Small Business of the Year! We have been running the business for 10 years – built from a passion of wanting to rescue things that deserved a second chance and to preserve our planet.”
The Small Awards – which is a nationwide search for the smallest and greatest firms in the UK, across all sectors – also awarded Bristol-based jewellery start-up ‘Silver & Steel’ the New Kid on the Block award, sponsored by TSB. In less than a year of trading, the studio has grown significantly through workshops and events, as well as an online retailer, supporting local jewellery makers, the community and championing sustainability.
Whilst a mum who became chair of her local school PTA and decided to create the first app to help parents and PTAs fundraise, also scooped the ‘Sole-to-Sole’ award for sole-traders, after her technology was adopted in over 50 schools.
Now in its eighth year, The Small Awards is organised annually by Small Business Britain, which champions, inspires and accelerates the nation’s 5.5 million small firms. Ninety small business were shortlisted across 11 Small Award categories.
Gillies and Mackay – a family-run business lovingly crafting sheds for over 30 years – won the Legacy award, while Pennine Cycles, an independent Bradford-based bicycle shop established in 1946 won the High Street Hero.
Online retailer Rainbow & Co won the Bricks & Clicks award, celebrated for authentically championing the LGBTQ+ community with its diverse product range.
Whitby tearoom Hetty & Betty won the At Your Service award, while Front Room Theatre, born out of a need for an accessible community theatre space within Weston-Super-Mare, won the Mission Possible award and OutBritain Limited won the Supply Chain Campion award for its mission to connect, support and grow the LGBT+ business community across the UK.
Kids’ activities online directory Club Hub UK won the Digital Star award and community interest company Nickel Support, based in Carshalton, won the Heart of Gold award.
“Small businesses are at the heart of their communities, and make unique contributions to the UK economy, and they deserve recognition. The Small Awards aim to do just that,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain.
Minister for Small Business Kevin Hollinrake MP, who attended The Small Awards and presented the Small Business of the Year Award said: “The awards are a reminder of the innovation and tenacity that makes the UK’s small businesses the best in the world.”
Peter Hatton, Head of Business Banking and Savings at TSB said: “It’s great to be celebrating British small businesses once again and reminding people of the incredible value they provide in driving employment and contributing to the community.”
To find out more about the winners visit https://thesmallawards.uk/index.aspx#theAwards