FSB to launch regional Local Government Awards
By Matt Hall | 22nd June 2022
The Federation of Small Business (FSB) will shortly be launching the first England regional-wide Local Government Awards, due to be held virtually on Friday 14th October 2022.
FSB has been hosting local authority awards for more than ten years, with the first formal awards being organised in Hampshire and Dorset.
Since then, the organisation has rolled out further awards in FSB regions which have sought to encourage best practice amongst councils and recognise those who have demonstrated support of small businesses.
In a statement about the awards on their website, FSB said: "Our proud history of hosting these awards has consistently demonstrated the importance of celebrating positive local council contributions and engagement with FSB, members and small businesses.
"Local authorities have a major impact on the business environment in which small businesses operate: from high streets to individual sole trader business engagement, from COVID-19 support to future-ready projects such as addressing skills shortages challenges and maximising net zero knowledge, opportunities and accessibility.
"During the pandemic, our staff and volunteers worked closer than ever with local authorities. Ensuring both the distribution and eligibility of financial and pragmatic support worked as best as possible for our members, and today continuing to work on post-COVID recovery as well as the many other issues affecting our members - from levelling up to devolution deals - FSB works with local authorities knowing more than ever the importance and scope of their impact on small business."
"It is for this reason that we have decided that now is the time to build on the previous successes of local authority awards and bring those awards under one England-wide banner."
The FSB English Local Government Awards hope to share best practice of local authorities across the England regions, showcase the importance of local authority engagement with, and support of, small business, and celebrate the positive impact that local authorities can have on small businesses and their outcomes.
Announcing the awards, FSB Karen Durcan, head of English Regions, said: "The FSB is proud to support the FSB Local Government Awards. At a time when small firms across England are faced with an increase in the cost of doing business, it is vitally important that Councils look to support their local economies and that we can celebrate where achievement is high and best practice can be shared."
To submit your experiences with local authorities: where a project or person has gone above and beyond to support and how their work has made a positive impact on your business. Please email Lucy Seymour-Smith, regional policy manager (England), on lucy.seymour-smith@fsb.org.uk.
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