Cornwall Council has been awarded a ‘best in the region’ award for its support for the local small business community – as well as being shortlisted for three other awards.
Cornwall was among 250 councils nationally who entered the inaugural Local Government Awards run by Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and it was the only council in the south west to be included on the regional shortlist for each of the four categories.
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly emerged triumphant in the ‘Programme of Business Support’ category with Cornwall also on the shortlist in the ‘All Round Small Business’ ‘Covid-19 Support’ and ‘Future Ready’ categories.
The FSB arranged the inaugural all-England Local Government awards to highlight all those that had made the biggest impact on local SMEs during the Covid crisis and beyond. And, at Friday’s virtual online final, Cornwall was named as the south west regional champion with judges being impressed by the Council’s programme to help local businesses survive the pandemic and then try to build a sustainable post-pandemic future.
Cornwall Council portfolio holder for economy, Louis Gardner, said: “The hard work that team Cornwall has put in to help businesses and to support them through the very challenging period during and following the pandemic has been recognised by those who know best what they have achieved. To be named as the regional winner by the FSB is a proud moment for everyone involved in the delivery of support to our local businesses.”
Ann Vandermeulen, FSB development manager for Cornwall, added: “I am very pleased that the hard work of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Hub has shone through and that all of the other entries from departments in Cornwall Council had earned so many nominations to come through in the final shortlists in every category in a very tough south west field.”
