The 2018 Shortlist and Winners

This category will recognise the accountancy software provider that best suits the needs of SMEs, with the judges considering level of innovation, impressive customer care, value for money, and a product that best assists small companies with managing their finances.

WINNER: Sage

Shortlist

AutoEntry
Zoho
FreeAgent
Sage
Xero
Crunch
Intuit QuickBooks
Compleat Software
KashFlow

The judges will look for the accountancy/tax advisory firm that has gone the furthest to target and help smaller companies, with quality of client service, value for money and SME-focused initiatives being prime considerations.

WINNER: Mazuma

Shortlist

R&D Tax Solutions
Griffin Stone Moscrop & Co
Mazuma
Clear House Accountants
flinder
Purple Lime Accountancy
simplyVAT
The VAT People
Propel by Deloitte
Rodliffe Accounting
Mazars

The judges will assess online finance providers such as crowdfunding sites and peer-to-peer lenders. They will look for the operators most notable in financing small companies, considering factors such as volume of funds provided, innovative services and a dedicated SME offering.

WINNER: Liberis

Shortlist

Crowdcube
RateSetter
Jenson Funding Partners
LendingCrowd
Seedrs
Duke Royalty
Mercia Technologies
SyndicateRoom
Liberis
Ablrate

For this category, the judges will look for the best business bank accounts, or accounts from online providers for smaller companies, taking into consideration quality of customer service and SME-focused initiatives.

WINNER: Metro Bank

Shortlist

Tide
Starling Bank
Revolut
Metro Bank
Trezeo

This award recognises the lending institution, whether a bank or solely online provider, that has best addressed the needs of smaller businesses, with the judges considering factors such as access to and supply of debt, customer service and SME-focused initiatives.

WINNER: iwoca

Shortlist

Ultimate Finance Group
Spotcap UK
Capital on Tap
Worldpay
OakNorth
iwoca

In this section, the judges will reward the e-commerce platform that has best addressed customer demands, considering factors including turnover growth, an impressive market presence, innovation of concept and delivery, and notable plans to scale.

WINNER: Love the Sales

Shortlist

OTTY Sleep
Love the Sales
The Webinar Vet
Mindful Chef
Lavolio
Love Layla Designs
Fashercise
Mention Me
ProtectBox
Osmology

The Exporter of the Year will be an business of less than 50 total staff that has demonstrated an ability to succeed in international markets, with judges considering export sales growth/consistency and a notable aptitude for adapting a product or service to new markets.

WINNER: Inciner8 International

Shortlist

Materials Management Consultants
Reach and Rescue
Inciner8 International
Viridian Nutrition
Micropore Technologies
ScienceScope
Body Care Brand Development
EthOss Regeneration
Joe’s Gourmet Foods
ES Global Ltd
The Foraging Fox
tangerine
Predator Nutrition and Ingenico

This award will recognise the female leader of a company of less than 50 total staff that has been an instrumental figurehead, driving impressive revenue growth and building a strong market presence for her business.

WINNER: Childs Farm

Shortlist

Adele Oxberry, Umbrella Training and Employment Solutions
Claire Cooksey, CS Bookkeeping Services
Tommie Edwards, Eventbree
Chrissa McFarlane, Patientory
Kathryn Scourfield, Scourfield Veterinary Services
Rachel Jones, SnapDragon Monitoring
Colleen Wong, Techsixtyfour Ltd
Joanna Jensen, Childs Farm
Monica Karpinski, The Femedic

The Innovator of the Year category rewards the business of less than 50 total staff that has shown a demonstrable ability to bring market-changing ideas to a sector, with the resulting product/service being truly innovative.

WINNER: Toast Ale

Shortlist

Parcelly
Toast Ale
Micropore Technologies
Profinda
Smith and Sinclair
Landbay
Tictrac
Laundryheap
Impragas
Poppy’s Picnic
LENA Space
Lantum

This category will recognise the insurance provider that best addresses the needs of SMEs, with the judges considering quality of service, value for money and breadth of cover.

WINNER: Tapoly

Shortlist

Qdos Contractor
Tapoly
AXA PPP healthcare
Heath Crawford
SES Home Services
Digital Risks
Nimbla

The Micro Business of the Year will be a company of 2-9 people that has demonstrated strong revenue growth and a product or service of a quality that stands above competitors. The identifying of and capitalising on scale opportunities will also be noted by the judges.

WINNER: Creative Nature

Shortlist

Concierge Medical
3F EV
Be-Baby Limited
Driven International
Proviz
Aspect Commercial Flooring
Maypole Travel
Tikiboo
Creative Nature
Canford Classics
Spider.
Cast in style

This category will reward the entrepreneur, adviser, or industry authority who has been most committed to small business advocacy, with judges considering lobbying effectiveness, efficacy of campaigns, or any other measure of success in promoting smaller businesses.

WINNER: High Profile Club

Shortlist

David Murray-Hundley
Kiran Bhagotra
Lydia Amoah
Lee Nathan
Holly Shackleton
Rafael dos Santos
Merilee Karr
Cass Horowitz
James Buckley-Thorp
Mandy Swift

The judges will look for a small business of 10-50 employees with the most innovative and sector-disrupting service/product combined with strong turnover growth over the past year.

WINNER: Housekeep

Shortlist

Collision Management Systems
Simplee Aloe
Bambino Mio
Direct Food Ingredients
Lexacom
Indigo Swan
Sulets
The Natural Travel Collection
Housekeep
Feast It
Start People
DHI Scotland

This award recognises the sole trader business that provides a service/product that stands above peers, demonstrating consistent sales over the past year and a niche position in its industry.

WINNER: C-Inside

Shortlist

Crafty Gems
C-Inside
Beyond Living
Casa Fina
Jewellery Inspired
Intrigue and Mosaic of Stroud

This category rewards the technology provider that has placed an SME service at the heart of its offering, displaying innovation, impressive customer care and a product to help small companies run efficiently and grow.

WINNER: BaseKit

Shortlist

Netmetix
DocuSign
BrightHR
Movolytics
ProspectSoft
BaseKit
Previse
Azzure IT
Alternative Business Funding
WorkPal

Quality of facilities, location(s), technology-enabling capabilities and value for money will be the key factors discussed, as well as the workspace provider’s overall influence on the SME ecosystem.

WINNER: The Trampery

Shortlist

Storey
Here East
Cuckooz Nest
The Trampery
Croft Myl
Workspace Group
WeWork
SiGNAL

This category celebrates the entrepreneur aged 25 or under who has demonstrated the most impressive credentials in starting and growing an innovative business, with the judges considering factors such as turnover growth, market penetration, and partnerships forged.

WINNER: Harding Estate Agents

Shortlist

Fergus Harding, Harding Estate Agents
Andrew Michael, visdea
Ben Michaelis, ThinkEngine
Joseph black, UniDosh
Chantelle Mundy, Maple Rock Studios
Oliver Thomas, YIVER
Gauthier Van Malderen, Perlego
Carly Moss, Little Moss Designs