We won Small Business of the Year at the Nottinghamshire Business Awards
- Mar 17
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 18
Champagne moments — they’re a wonderful way to celebrate all your hard-earned success, as well as a timely reminder of just how far you’ve come.
As Steve Jobs once said: “If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time”.
On Thursday the 12th of March, First Enterprise won the Small Business of the Year award at the Nottinghamshire Business Awards in Newark. It was recognition of an incredible year of hard work and growth, but also of the more than 37 years the business has provided lending and support across the East Midlands.
The First Enterprise team stand on stage with their Small Business of the Year award
Read on to learn about why the award matters, what we did to win it, and why you should take notice if you’re planning on starting a new business or need help with an existing one.
Flashy suits, stylish dresses, and a very well-fed First Enterprise team
The lavish ceremony gave the team an excuse to get dressed in their “finest” and enjoy a lovely evening surrounded by many of Nottinghamshire’s most successful businesses (with more than a few tired eyes the next morning).
First Enterprise team at their Nottinghamshire Business Award's table
The landmark event in the East Midlands Chamber’s calendar aims to promote and celebrate the rich diversity and talent across the Nottinghamshire region, as well as instances of outstanding development, growth, and transformation. The 12 award categories saw a wide range of businesses nominated.
The Small Business of the Year award focuses on businesses, including not-for-profits, that employ between 11 and 50 people, and have a turnover of above £1 million annually.
The judges assess which of the nominated businesses demonstrated best their ability to showcase their achievements and clearly detail how their business is growing.
First Enterprise’s award’s triumph underlines an incredibly successful year, full of growth and considerable social impact.
This past year, we helped create 587 new businesses, while providing more than £21 million in funding — energising the East Midland’s economy.
The Small Business of the Year award caps years of growth for First Enterprise, while also helping others do the same
Over the past few years, our team has started to grow. In February 2025, First Enterprise employed 21 people. As of March 2026, that number has risen to 27 with further recruitment planned in the coming months.
As we’ve grown, we’ve been able to lend out greater funds, helping new and existing businesses thrive, and in return helping us expand further.
It’s a wonderful cycle that has helped us support one of our core missions: providing access to business funding to underrepresented and underserved communities, such as minorities, women, neurodivergent individuals, and LGBTQA+ people.
Across 2025/26, we have:
Lent out more than £21 million, an £8 million rise on 2024/25
Supported 798 businesses compared to 712 in 2024/25
Helped create 587 new businesses across 2025/26, up from the 525 we helped fund in 2024/25.
Download our 2024/25 Impact Report to learn more.
A win for First Enterprise is a win for community-focused lending
Danielle Davis, Deputy Director at First Enterprise, was overjoyed with the win, reminiscing that:
“It feels like an age since I sat down to write the awards application. I’d wanted to highlight the work we do as a CDFI to support new and growing businesses across the region. Receiving this recognition from our local chamber is a testament to our transformation, quality service, and the hard work of our team over the past year.”
Daniel Carrico, Executive Director at First Enterprise, shared his thoughts on the accolade, saying:
“We were honoured to win Small Business of the Year. It’s a reflection of the incredible work that each member of our team puts in every day. Our core mission of supporting start-up entrepreneurs and SMEs to access funding wouldn’t be possible without their dedication, professionalism, and overall commitment.
Daniel Carrico, Executive Director, accepting the award
“I’m extremely proud of what we have achieved together. The impact we are making for founders and growing businesses across our community is significant, and this award is a testament to that collective effort.
“I would like to extend a sincere thank you to First Enterprise’s board for their guidance and support, as well as every other business at the Nottinghamshire Business Awards. We provide the lending, but it’s those innovative, hard-working businesses that take that funding and contribute to the UK’s economy."
Lee Hewson, the founder of Your IT Department — the sponsors of this year’s Small Business of the Year award — said of First Enterprise’s win:
“What made them stand out wasn't just their own success. It was the fact that their success has directly driven the growth of other local businesses and communities around them. That's the kind of impact that really matters.”
Since 2011, First Enterprise have:
Provided £96 million in lending
Supported 5257 businesses
Safeguarded and/or created 8605 jobs.
We continue to grow, taking on new funds, and working towards our goal of helping minority, female, neurodivergent, and LGBTQA+ businesses succeed.
Daniel’s final thought on the win: “This award belongs to every member of the team; I want to offer a heart-felt thank you to them all.”
First Enterprise are here to get your business started, and to help you grow — get in touch today!
You don’t have to go it alone!
It can be a hard lesson for many people to learn, but it’s a vital one. At First Enterprise, we are here to help support your business, new or old, with:
Access to lending, which you might have struggled to previously get through traditional lenders
Provide guidance and insights, no matter if your business is a new start-up or an established company with more than five years trading
A carefully curated customer journey that aims to have you walking away with confidence in your decision.
To discuss our Start Up Loan or Business Loan options, please reach out to our team of advisors through the contact form or by calling 03456 027 355.
Our success is built not only on the backs of a growing team of talented individuals, but also on a long-lasting collaborative network of clients and professional partners. We haven’t done it alone and neither should you. Talk to us today.
First Enterprise is a responsible finance provider offering unsecured loans ranging from £500 to £250,000 to support both start-ups and established businesses across the UK Since 2011, First Enterprise has lent over £96 million, supporting 5257 businesses, and safeguarding and/or creating 8605 jobs.
Learn more about how we can support your business.
