Competition run by Enterprise Nation to find the UK’s Top 50 SME Business Advisers launches

Professionals in West Norfolk who have given businesses support to survive and succeed can be nominated in a national competition which launched this week.

The Top 50 Advisers Awards run by Enterprise Nation, the UK’s leading support network for small businesses (SMEs) will celebrate the unsung heroes whose professional advice behind the scenes during the past year, has helped shape the fortunes of flourishing small businesses.

Business owners and managers are invited to nominate their most valued advisers across ten categories, ranging from legal eagles and financial wizards, to digital gurus through to marketing masterminds.

Advisers can also nominate themselves if they’re able to provide evidence of their work with small businesses and how it has helped them, alongside relevant testimonials.

This year's competition also sees the launch of a new 11th category, the Above and Beyond award, which will pay special tribute to those professionals – across all sectors – who have provided free, one-to-one expert advice to SMEs to help them address the myriad of challenges facing them as a result of the coronavirus epidemic, and in particular those who have given up their time for free as part of the Government-backed Recovery Advice for Business initiative.

Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation said: “We know from more than 300,000 small businesses who have visited our platform in the past six months, just how invaluable the advice of professional experts can be – especially in these difficult times. Now more than ever, it can mean the difference between their business surviving, or thriving.

“The aim of these awards is to showcase and celebrate the vital behind-the-scenes work of these unsung heroes, while also raising awareness of, and encouraging more small businesses to access trusted and affordable professional support.”

A Government paper entitled The Report on Small Firms, 2010 to 2015 states: "The evidence demonstrates that small firms that take external help and advice are most likely to grow and maximise their contribution to the British economy."

Emma said: “This year we are introducing a special one-off category – the Above and Beyond award – to recognise the work of those superheroes that have gone the extra mile to support business owners struggling to cope with the impact of the pandemic on their business. Since the scheme's launch in June this year, hundreds of advisers have stepped up to offer small businesses one-to-one expertise for free – in many cases proving a lifeline for them.

“We are seeing an increase in the number of people starting a business with record rates of start-up registrations lodged at Companies House in July 2020. These fledgling businesses can greatly benefit from the expertise and support of a professional adviser, in particular during their crucial ‘make-or-break’ first year – compounded by the challenges of the current economic climate – and to help them with capacity-building and futureproofing for the years ahead."

A Top 50 Advisers 2020 shortlist will be published on November 4 which will then go to a public vote, closing on November 18. The final winners will be announced at a virtual awards event on November 25.

To nominate an adviser, visit www.enterprisenation.com/top50

Entries close October 26.