It was a pleasure to be able to visit the some of the winners of my second annual Small Business Awards on Small Business Saturday to congratulate them and give them some recognition in the run-up to Christmas.
I launched my second annual awards in early November and invited people to nominate their favourite local businesses in my Southampton Itchen constituency.
The winning businesses are:
- Stacey’s Shack in Bitterne
- Monika Hair Designer in Woolston
- Paul Dumper Creations in Woolston
- Bitterne Park Stores in Bitterne Park Triangle
- Kiwi Education, a training provider in the city centre
After launching this year’s awards I received a fantastic 400 nominations – a big increase on the 280 nominations that came in last year. This shows just how much we all value these businesses and I’d like to thank everyone in Southampton who helped me to recognise the contribution that these business heroes make to our high streets and communities.
I’ll be inviting the winners to Parliament to share their views on how the government can support local businesses. I’m also continuing with my series of Business Action Forum meetings, where business owners can meet me to discuss any issues or support needed, following well-attended sessions in Woolston, Bitterne and the city centre over the autumn. Keep an eye on my social media or sign up to my newsletter where I’ll announce future sessions.