Sussex Innovation Centre is pleased to announce that we will be sponsoring one of the categories at the prestigious 2018 Federation of Small Businesses Awards.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is a UK business organisation representing small and medium-sized businesses. Each year they host an awards ceremony, celebrating the success of SMEs across Britain.

The awards ceremony, which is now in its 43rd year, recognises SMEs for the vital role they play in the regional and national economies, and position the South East as a hub of business innovation. As we aim to have our finger on the pulse of all things innovation, this is a huge honour for us, and we are very happy to be supporting the FSB.

Earlier in 2017, Brian Woods, Regional Chairman of FSB Surrey and West Sussex, urged South East based entrepreneurs to enter the awards, commenting: “For a chance to be recognised as the best small business in the South East, as well as in the whole of the UK, I encourage all businesses to enter the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards. SMEs are a vital part of the South East’s economy – contributing so much to the economy and making our region a more exciting place in which to live, work, study and visit”.

We will be sponsoring the category ‘Business and Product Innovation’ Award, one in which “bold, new business models and innovative products delivering dramatic results can shine”. The ideal candidate for winning this award will be a business who is not only innovative and has the ability to scale, but the determination to stick with their business long-term. They must also be able to demonstrate how their business has changed as a result of innovation.

Mike Herd, Executive Director of Sussex Innovation Centre, stated: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring the award for Business and Product innovation. It’s a great match for the work we do every day to support the region’s small businesses and help them realise big ideas.”