Small businesses keen to share their stories of success have just a few days remaining to enter a competition being run by West Bromwich Albion FC sponsor Intuit QuickBooks and the Birmingham Post and, with a winner’s prize package worth £15,000 up for grabs.

The winner will be announced at a glittering awards dinner being held at The Hawthorns on Monday March 16 and all the entrants who are shortlisted will be invited to attend.

The event promises to be a night to remember, with West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis in attendance along with several players from the club.

For the last few weeks, Intuit QuickBooks has teamed up with the Premier League football club and the Post for the Small Business Big Success competition – on a mission to find the West Midlands’ greatest small business success story.

Visit http://www.intuit.co.uk/small-business-big-success/index.jsp to enter

From starting up a business for the first time to opening a new office or winning a major contract, the competition has uncovered many inspiring achievements from local SMEs across the region.

While only one small business will win the prize package worth over £15,000, everyone should feel like a winner for all the hard work they do running a business.

The awards take place in the Richardson Suite at The Hawthorns on Monday March 16 from 5.30-8.30pm.

All eligible small businesses that have entered Small Business Big Success are invited to the evening, which will include a full sit-down dinner as well as a special Q&A presentation with Tony Pulis, and some surprise West Bromwich Albion players. There will be a few other treats in store for attendees as well.

Anyone wishing to attend the event needs to receive an invite as one of the Small Business Big Success entrants. Companies interested in sharing their stories of success only have until March 1 to get their entries in.

When it comes to deciding who will be the eventual winner, the judges have stressed the emphasis will be on achieving success in any of its many forms, rather than just being the biggest or the best.

The winner will be selected by a panel of judges that includes QuickBooks’ UK country manager Rich Preece, West Bromwich Albion’s sales and marketing director Adrian Wright and Birmingham Post editor Stacey Barnfield.

West Bromwich Albion's Hawthorns ground
West Bromwich Albion's Hawthorns ground

Mr Preece praised the high standard of entries the judges have received to date and urged anyone who feels they have a success worth telling to enter in the final days before the deadline expires.

He said: “We’ve really enjoyed the last few weeks on our hunt to find the West Midlands’ greatest small business success story.

“And from the entries we’ve received so far, everyone should feel like a winner for all the hard work they do in running a business.

“But if you’re still thinking of entering, we’d love to hear from you, no matter how big or small you think your achievement might be.

“From starting up a business for the first time to opening a new office or winning a major contract, we’re looking to uncover the stories you’re most proud of, so get your entries in before this Sunday.

“We can’t wait to see the entrants at the awards dinner we’re putting on at The Hawthorns.”

HOW TO ENTER

Businesses wishing to enter the Small Business Big Success competition should visit www.quickbooks.co.uk/success where they can tell their story and how they want to develop their company.

Entries need to be received before 11.59pm on Sunday, March 1 and entrants must be a legal resident or UK citizen and 18 years or older.

They must own a small business, defined by having 50 or fewer full-time employees, and registered at Companies House. Entrants must either be the small business owner or an employee, submitting with the permission of the owner.

Their business must be based in the West Midlands county (comprising Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Solihull, Walsall and Sandwell), Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire

The judges will select a winner who best demonstrates success and how the prize package will help.

The winner will receive a package worth £15,000 to celebrate their success, as well as support to take their business to the next level. In addition to £5,000 cash, the winner’s prize includes a full page feature in the Birmingham Post.

The winning firm will also benefit from advertising at the West Bromwich Albion v Queen’s Park Rangers fixture on Saturday April 4. This will include 20 minutes of coverage on the pitch LED screens, as well as printed content in the West Bromwich Albion matchday programme that day.

The winner can also enjoy a day at the Hawthorns to see their business being promoted, including tickets, hospitality and a mascot package. The winner will also receive free QuickBooks small business accounting software for two years and expert clinic sessions with an accountant as well as marketing and social media experts.