The Independent Awards 2021

Small Business of the Year Award

This award was won by Big Bakes Bakery who received a cash prize of £10,000, and the Runner-up was The Tartan Blanket Co. who received £5,000.

As a reminder, this award celebrates the proven all-rounders; the established brands that haven’t just survived but thrived. The founders not just with grit and spirit, but agility and creativity, too. Those who’ve built a business doing what they love and are real customer favourites.

The Winner

Big Bakes Bakery

This brilliant small business bakes delicious cupcakes, brownies and cookies by hand and is taking on the baking world one cake at a time. Their unique and innovative recipes, coupled with the impressive size of their wares (and fun Insta antics), ensure they don’t just have customers but loyal fans.

The Runner-Up

The Tartan Blanket Co.

The Tartan Blanket Co. is an online natural wool scarf and blanket brand based in Edinburgh. With a focus on sharing warmth and sustainability, The Tartan Blanket Co. donates 2% of every purchase to environmental and people-based charities.

Nominees and Finalists

Each of these independent business has been selected for being outstanding in this category. Which is your favourite?

Glosters

Glosters is a husband and wife run team creating handmade ceramics in the heart of North Wales. They specialise in marvellous mugs and their aim is to make beautiful handmade affordable pieces that are a joy to use.

visit website
Shortlisted stamp

Spice Kitchen

Spice Kitchen is an award-winning spice and gift company run by mother and son team Sanjay and Shashi Aggarwal. They share a common goal: to honour their Indian heritage and make their ancestors proud.

visit website
Shortlisted stamp

The Chocolate Smiths

The Chocolate Smiths create handmade chocolate bars in super fun and innovative flavours! They are hugely passionate about making people smile through sharing their love for what they do and are an advocate for supporting small, independent businesses.

visit website
Shortlisted stamp

Cotton Clara

Cotton Clara design colourful and creative embroidery kits. They are passionate about demonstrating how easy and uplifting it is to make something beautiful.

visit website

Fable Heart

Fable Heart creates long lasting dress up clothes, that encourage meaningful play, in the most enchanting way. In a costume industry full of throw-away items, they stand out with their dedication to making sure each piece lasts for generations.

visit website

HAM

HAM follows the contented life of Rabbit – capturing his daily adventures, sporting escapades and social outings in silhouette form on a range of thoughtfully crafted homeware, wall art and paper goods.

visit website

HappySelf

Beautiful daily journals promoting happiness and wellbeing through the science backed habits of gratitude, kindness and mindfulness. HappySelf is on a mission to create happier futures by encouraging positive habits today.

visit website

Magnificent Stanley

Magnificent Stanley is home to the original, beautiful, personalised Liberty print t-shirts and gifts for babies and children. Lovingly made in East Sussex.

visit website

Molly Meg

Molly Meg champions and showcases innovative design inspired by childhood to be enjoyed by the family. It is a place that makes people smile, sparks imagination, inspiration and a sense of wonder.

visit website

Mustard Made

Founded by sisters Becca and Jess, Mustard Made launched in 2018. They create colourful lockers for home, work and play. They’re big on colour and believe in products that are both pretty and practical.

visit website

My Runway Group

The majority of black founders lack commercial visibility. My Runway Group created Black In Carnaby to stock and connect over 250 black owned businesses to modern day Britain.

visit website

Our Lovely Goods

Celebrate the feeling of home with Our Lovely Goods. A family-run business, passionate about creating beautifully simple homewares and skincare, to help make life a little better.

visit website

Petalon

Petalon is a better kind of flower delivery. It sends carbon neutral bouquets nationwide from its base on a Cornish flower farm. The arrangements change weekly with 5% of profits going to bee conservation.

visit website

Polar Post

Children see magic everywhere they look because they are themselves magic. Polar Post’s mission is to preserve that magic. Their letters transport children to another world, to a land of magic and wonder.

visit website

The Happy Blossoms

The Happy Blossoms are creators of beautiful florals spreading joy around the country with their baked and fresh blossoms. Founded by a mother-daughter duo, they are enormously passionate about spreading happiness through flowers.

visit website

The Jacksons

The Jacksons iconic “word bags” are sold internationally and the range is expanding to include homeware and embroidered products to further showcase the skills of the talented artisans of Bangladesh.

visit website

Want That Fudge UK

Want That Fudge UK are a family run business founded in the family kitchen in 2014. They specialise in the most delicious, smooth, soft, melt in the mouth fudge, with the most ingenious recipes and products.

visit website

Yawn

Yawn makes colourful, characterful nightwear. Their mission is to help women relax – born out of founder Alice Whiteley’s exhaustion as a working mum. Featuring hand-drawn prints, superfine ethical fabrics and feel-good features.

visit website

Share

Other Award Categories

Don't forget you can vote for one business in each category

Business for Good Award

Purpose led business bringing positive change

Vote Now

Female Founder Award

Unstoppable spirit, brilliant business, paving the way

Vote Now

High Street Shop Award

The heart of our high street, the soul of our community

Vote Now

Modern Crafter Award

Pure creative crafter with skill, talent and technique

Vote Now

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.

THE NO.1 EMAIL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

For weekly advice and inspiration you won't get elsewhere, sign up to our emails.