Proving the power in small businesses with our latest award win

Covid-19 has challenged the world physically, mentally, and economically. But despite these struggles, many existing and newly emerging small businesses have flourished. This was evident in the Business of the Year less than 50 Employees category at the SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards 2020/21 which took place last night (April 29th 2021).

The finalists for the PEM Accountants sponsored award included ourselves, Biorbyt Ltd, Cambridge Spark, Darke Engineering Ltd, Doodle Video UK Limited, Skat Ltd, techspert.io, and Windsor Patania architects. In true Cambridge fashion, all finalists are impeccable innovators in their respective fields, which include bioscience, data science, construction, software, AI, and architecture. 

But we’re so proud to say that it was Priority Digital Health that took home the win. 

"The social impact of this organisation is significant. It has a strong purpose which is driven by innovation & service improvement.”

- The judging panel at SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards

"We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award. Our team works incredibly hard to deliver digital innovations that make a genuine difference to both service providers and individuals. 

"Over the course of the last year and beyond, PDH has played a major part in supporting vulnerable people throughout the pandemic using our Covid-19 Welfare platform [that has now been developed and expanded into the Essex Wellbeing Service]; as well as a greater digital enhancement to the courses delivered on the Diabetes Book and Learn platform.

"It’s amazing to receive an award that recognises these efforts and we’re excited to share more health and wellbeing solutions which will be coming later this year.”

- Joint Chief Executives of Priority Digital Health, Alison Meadows and John Dibb.

Although often viewed as the underdogs of the business world, small businesses hold great power and responsibility for both employment and economic growth. The National Federation of Self Employed & Small Businesses revealed the following:

  • At the start of 2020, there were 5.94 million small businesses (with 0 to 49 employees), 99.3% of the total business. SMEs account for 99.9% of the business population (6.0 million businesses).
  • Compared with the previous year, the private sector business population increased 1.9% (+113,000 businesses).
  • Total employment in SMEs was 16.8 million (61% of the total), whilst turnover was estimated at £2.3 trillion (52%).

This demonstrates how small businesses hold so much power both economically and socially. They are integral for supporting and enhancing the lives of others through employment and their business offering - and it’s very evident that much of this power is prominent in Cambridge.