A Conwy business that produces cool prosthetic leg covers for amputees and a company which fully furnishes homes for people escaping domestic abuse in Bridgend were among the winners at an awards ceremony held by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
LIMB-Art, based in Blychau, was named Exporter of the Year at the 2023 FSB Wales Celebrating Small Business Awards. The business, founded by paralympic swimming and medallist Mark Williams and his wife Rachael, is dedicated to producing colourful prosthetic leg covers for amputees over the world.
Community Furniture Aid scooped up the Community Award for their services to the local community in Bridgend, where the business fully furnishes homes for people escaping domestic abuse situations or those facing homelessness.
Becws Islyn, a family bakery in Aberdaron run by Geraint and Gillian Jones took home the Family of the Year Award at the ceremony, after demonstrating how the family business’ nature and value has continued to its success.
Gillian Jones of Becws Islyn said: “Our family means everything to us- so the fact that we have been awarded Family Business of the Year is very special. It feels emotional to be recognised for the love and care that we give to our family and our business.”
The winners were announced today at a ceremony in voco St. David’s Cardiff Hotel, presented by journalist and presenter Andrea Byrne. The ceremony saw awards collected by small businesses from across Wales for 12 categories.
Other winners included sustainable packaging firm The Pure Option which received the Sustainability Award, while Chris Whittaker from The Platts Group in Wrexham, was crowned Wales Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Mr Whittaker said: “I feel incredibly grateful and humbled to have received this award. Starting a new company takes an immense amount of effort, so it's an amazing feeling to be recognized for our hard work. I owe this achievement to the amazing team around me, as I couldn't have done it without them."
The 12 Welsh winners will now go forward to the UK final of the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2023 and have the chance to be crowned UK Small Business of the Year at the national final in Birmingham.
FSB Wales’ policy chair Ben Francis said: “It’s fantastic to see the incredible achievements of small businesses from across Wales recognized and celebrated at this year’s FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards.
The winners have shown incredible tenacity and innovation and are a true testament to the vibrancy of Wales’ small business community. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists, who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their customers, employees, and local communities. We wish them all the best of luck as they go forward to the UK final in Birmingham and compete for the title of UK Small Business of the Year.”
The full list of winners for the 2023 FSB Wales Celebrating Small Business Awards
Community Award
Community Furniture Aid (Bridgend)
Business and Product Innovation Award
Net World Sports (Wrexham)
Larger Small Business of the Year 2023
Pontus Research (Aberdare)
Family Business of the Year 2023
Becws Islyn (Aberdaron)
Micro Business of the Year 2023
Needle Rock (Ceredigion)
Self-Employed / Freelancer of the Year 2023
Katherine Jones Artist (Cardiff)
Start-Up Business of th e Year 2023
Cardigan Bay Properties (Ceredigion)
Sustainability Award 2023
The Pure Option (Abertillery)
Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2023
Chris Whittaker - The Platts Group (Wrexham)
Exporter of the Year 2023
LIMB-art (Conwy)
Diversity & Inclusion Award 2023
BE.Xcellence CIC (Cardiff)
Service Excellence Award 2023
Empower Translate (Chepstow)
