We’re delighted to be sponsoring the Amazon Growing Business Awards 2016 to be held in London on Wednesday 30th November. The awards, set up by SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) news website Real Business and backed by the CBI, are now in their 18th year and are the most established and respected national recognition programme for SMEs and entrepreneurial success.

Speaking about the awards, Doug Gurr, UK Country Manager for Amazon, said: “As the world is getting smaller and the opportunities are getting bigger, there could not be a better time to recognise the progress of British SMEs through the Amazon Growing Business Awards. At Amazon, we are committed to championing growing businesses across the UK. Whether it’s helping sell online and export their products abroad, providing growing businesses with easy access to innovative cloud computing through Amazon Web Services, enabling budding authors to self-publish through Kindle Direct Publishing, or offering businesses an online payment solution through Amazon Payments, we are always looking for ways to help growing businesses achieve their potential.”

We were keen to get involved with the awards and partner with Real Business because SMEs and entrepreneurs have a track record of raising the bar of the customer experience through innovation and new ideas. More and more, technology and the internet are levelling the playing field between businesses big and small, and companies that capitalise on this with great ideas to provide great customer service should be celebrated and rewarded.

Take a look at how some British small businesses, entrepreneurs and authors have used our services to bring their ideas to life, and find out how you can do the same.

There are 16 categories up for grabs at the Amazon Growing Business Awards, and we’re sponsoring three categories in particular: Export Champion of the Year; Digital Business of the Year; and Growing Business of the Year (Mid-sized Company).

Nominations are open until Friday 23rd September. If you are a great small business, sign up here: http://gba.realbusiness.co.uk/