The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Celebrating Small Business Awards 2024, held at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, saw awards host and TV personality Tess Daly crown eco-friendly camping and caravan park Stubcroft Farm Campsite Ltd as the UK’s best sustainable business.
Stubcroft, based in Chichester, focuses on great customer service, putting long-term sustainable and ethical policies at the heart of its eco-leisure business.
Simon Green, managing director at Stubcroft Farm Campsite, said: “It’s absolutely amazing to win at these awards in this category. This is the culmination of a 30-year journey for us, and it’s down to the skills of the wider team.
“It doesn’t matter what policies I put in place – they’re the ones at the coalface turning it into reality, providing all the customer service as well as our sustainability measures.
“I think our passion for sustainability sets us apart. When we started 30 years ago, nobody was considering climate change in their business plan.
“We tended to be regarded as hippies, but now it’s become mainstream. It’s fantastic to see that FSB and other organisations are taking it so seriously.
“I’d like to use this award win to demonstrate the importance of building sustainability into every aspect of any business.”
The event saw representatives from more than 140 small businesses, plus self-employed professionals, gather from across the UK, with each previously named a regional winner in their respective area.
Other UK winners spanned award categories, including ‘Innovation’, ‘Young Entrepreneur’, ‘Family Business’, ‘Diversity & Inclusion’, ‘Start-Up’, ‘Franchise’, ‘Micro Business’, ‘Service Excellence’, ‘Expansion & Growth’ and ‘Community’, plus the coveted title of ‘Small Business of the Year’, which was awarded to Edinburgh-based carbon capture innovator, CCU International.
Founded in 1974, FSB has been the leading voice for millions of small businesses and the self-employed community in the UK for half a century.
This year’s Celebrating Small Business Awards grand final, delivered in partnership with headline sponsor Tyl by NatWest, was a momentous occasion for FSB, representing a celebration of the UK’s best small businesses and self-employed professionals.
Martin Mctague, OBE, national chair of FSB, said: “Congratulations to Stubcroft Farm Campsite Ltd. They are a shining example of how small businesses are leading by example to tackle the issue of climate change and wholeheartedly embrace sustainability.
“Well done, also, to all the regional finalists from the South East, who have helped to demonstrate the diversity, creativity and tenacity of small businesses and the self-employed across the region. It is through supporting small businesses that we’ll have a stronger economy.”
The complete list of UK winners in the 12 categories are:
- Small Business of the Year & Innovation Award – CCU International
- Young Entrepreneur Award – Samantha Cage, Ocala Healthcare
- Sustainability Award – Stubcroft Farm Campsite Ltd
- Expansion & Growth Award – Technology Powered Services Ltd
- Community Award – Nightstop Communities North-West CIC
- Diversity & Inclusion Award – Beyond Green
- Family Business Award – TEKShop
- Franchise Award – Boogie Beat Music and Movement
- Micro Business Award – 9Trees
- Self-Employed / Freelancer Award – Neil Trewick of Trew Surveying Ltd
- Service Excellence Award – Vanlife Conversions Ltd
- Start-up Business Award – HJH Commercial Consultant
