The Winners
From our High Street Shop award winner to our Female Founder champion, the Independent Awards 2021 represent best-in-class examples of UK small businesses. Both the public and our expert Judges recognised the tenacity, talent and innovation of these shining examples from this incredible community.
Winners will each receive £10,000 for their business — thanks to our small business supporters Dell Technologies, NatWest and Royal Mail — and and we’ll be following their journeys over the coming year.
Unhidden
A socially responsible, adaptive and universal fashion brand for people with disabilities. Founder Victoria’s main goal is to focus on representation for people who are facing the disability problem and providing beautiful options so that people have more choice than to wear pyjamas.
Often the very best concepts come from a place of need. Unhidden is an inspired solution to the lack of aspirational adaptable fashion and I am so happy to shine a light on such a considered brand.
Marcia Kilgore, serial entrepreneur and founder of Beauty Pie
Hattie Mcgill Embroidery
Hattie McGill creates incredible embroidered works of art and wearable pieces. Using traditional Goldwork embroidery techniques and hand embroidery, she creates brilliantly modern designs that are a joy to wear.
Anything that involves traditional craft is a winner in my eyes but embroidery is one of the crafts I want to learn — and Hattie McGill looks like one of the best. Real skill and talent. Great work.
Jay Blades MBE, presenter and founder of Jay & Co
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, ensure they don’t just have customers but loyal fans.
You can sense Big Bake Bakery’s hunger to build their business at every touch point. They clearly understand their customer and continue to innovate their products to constantly surprise and delight them.
Marcia Kilgore, serial entrepreneur and founder of Beauty Pie
Prior
Prior is a not-for-profit independent shop, workshop space, gallery and community hub in Bristol’s City Centre. Committed to conscious shopping, they showcase design-led, handcrafted work, made responsibly and sustainably, while providing a welcoming place for locals to learn new skills.
Lovely shop, doing great things. Our mystery shopper had a wonderful time and will be buying more from you over Christmas. The shop was a delight to visit and what they do is brilliant.
Mark Constantine OBE, co-founder of Lush
The Basket Room
The Basket Room creates beautiful collections of handwoven, decorative storage baskets for the home, woven with stunning colours and unique patterns. Founders Camilla and Holly work with small craft collectives in Africa to share ethical, stylish accessories with a story.
Excellent example of women investing in women, stunning product, with a vision to constantly improve.
Marcia Kilgore, serial entrepreneur and founder of Beauty Pie
Glosters
Tucked away in Porthmadog, North Wales, a wonderful husband and wife team run Glosters – that sells the most incredible handmade pottery and tableware, and hosts pottery courses, too. Their beautiful designs use stoneware clay and glazes inspired by their local surroundings.
I was absolutely elated to see the incredible support people have for this business because they are so talented and dedicated to what they do. With this whole community behind them, I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Holly Tucker MBE, founder of notonthehighstreet and Holly & Co
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.
