The most outstanding small businesses in Gloucestershire and the wider South West area are being placed in the spotlight.

Britain's biggest business representation group the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has today launched the 'FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2019' which will culminate in both regional and national finals in the spring.

Small businesses throughout the South West England will battle it out for prizes across 11 different categories and the awards are open to both FSB members and non-members alike.

Entry is free and all interested small and micro-businesses and self-employed individuals have until December 14 to enter in as many categories as they wish.

The South West regional winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony in February and will then go forward to the national UK 'FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards' final, where the overall FSB UK Small Business of the Year 2019 will be crowned in May 2019.

The hugely-successful awards last year saw Gloucestershire firms SmartSurvey and Cheltenham's PinPoint Media both shortlisted against other SMEs with SmartSurvey bringing the South West digital business of the year trophy back to Tewkesbury.

Russell Warner, the FSB area lead for Gloucestershire, said he hoped more county firms would secure success in the contest this time.

"We know that Gloucestershire, is a hotbed of small business innovation and enterprise so it would be a fitting tribute to the county to see more of our firms claim success in these great awards,'' he said.

"I would urge as many as possible to enter - you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain."

The 11 FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards area categories are:

• International Business of the Year

• Ethical and Green Business of the Year

• Business and Product Innovation Award

• Digital Innovation of the Year

• Micro Business of the Year

• Start-Up Business of the Year

• Scale-Up Business of the Year

• Family Business of the Year

• Young Entrepreneur of the Year (aged 30 and under)

• Employer of the Year

• Community Award (area level only)

For further information and to enter the awards visit www.fsbawards.co.uk. Any Gloucestershire firms interested in sponsoring the high-profile awards should contact sam.holliday@fsb.org.uk.