The Independent Awards 2021
A huge thank you to everyone who tuned in to join the Independent Awards 2021 LIVE on 9th December. An even bigger thank you to our incredible Finalists, Winners and Runners-up. It was an absolute thrill to not only recognise, honour and celebrate your talent and hard work, but also to give away £100,000 to help support small businesses. What a wonderful opportunity it was to come together as a community too, and raise a glass together to all we have collectively achieved.
Thanks again to our sponsors Dell Technologies, NatWest and Royal Mail too for making this possible.
The 2021 Winners
Out of many thousands of Independent Award entries this year, below are the final Winners of the categories and People's Choice Awards. Each of them received £10,000 to help them develop and grow their business.
Business for Good Award
Unhidden
Modern Crafter Award
Hattie McGill Embroidery
High Street Shop Award
PRIOR SHOP
Female Founder Award
The Basket Room
Small Business of the Year Award
Big Bakes Bakery
People's Choice Award
Glosters
The 2021 Runners-Up
Out of many thousands of Independent Award entries this year, below are the final five Runners-up of the categories. Each of them received £5,000 to help them develop and grow their business.
Business for Good Award
Refuge Chocolate
Modern Crafter Award
MW Makes
High Street Shop Award
Moo Like A Monkey
Female Founder Award
Muthahood
Small Business of the Year Award
The Tartan Blanket Co.
Holly's 2021 Fairy Godmother Award Winners
Brand new this year, this Award was chosen by the Small Business Fairy Godmother herself to give a helping hand to the independents she feels will most benefit from an extra helping hand.
Holly's Fairy Godmother Award
Sonshine Magazine
Holly's Fairy Godmother Award
The Kookie Kid
Holly's Fairy Godmother Award
The Flock
Holly's Fairy Godmother Award
Emma Giacalone Textiles
The 2021 Award Categories
Simply tap on each category to see the Nominees.
Business for Good Award
Purpose-led business bringing positive change
Modern Crafter Award
Pure creative crafter with skill, talent and technique
Small Business of the Year Award
Exceptional all-round small business superstar
High Street Shop Award
The heart of our high street, soul of our community
Female Founder Award
Unstoppable spirit, brilliant business, paving the way
Young Entrepreneur Award
A shining example from the next generation
Meet the Judges
When searching for the very best independent small businesses, we knew we needed the very best judges; people who are passionate champions of creativity and experts in their respective areas - we're thrilled they have joined us to help choose the winners of the Independent Awards 2021.
MARCIA KILGORE
JAY BLADES
NADIYA HUSSAIN
MARK CONSTANTINE
SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR
ASMA KHAN
Alex Monroe
Sebastian Pole
Julie Deane CBE
Rob Ryan
Last year's Independent Awards
How lovely it is to look back on last year’s winners and see the difference their awards made. Whether it was using their cash prize to invest in some much-needed equipment or just the confidence it gave them to excel, we’re thrilled. 2020 was such a tough year for many small businesses, and we launched these awards to shine a light on the ginormous benefits this community brings. Voting is currently open for this year’s awards so we’re yet to find our 2021 Finalists, but if you’d like to see the rest of last year’s winners while you’re here…
Athena Cauley-Yu, Founder of Meticulous Ink
"Winning the People's Choice Award came as such a massive shock...Having that recognition for many years of work behind the scenes is such an enormous psychological boost. Add to that the incredible cash prize and my mind was completely blown!...I put a large chunk towards an enormous printing press that gives us more scope to do fun, experimental printing on a large scale. I am utterly grateful"
With thanks to our Award Supporters
These awards would not be possible without our incredible small business supporters who truly believe in the power of small.
