The following text field filters the results that follow as you type.
This year, the FSB celebrates both its 50th anniversary and FSB UK Final Awards.
Published on 19 June, 2024
Markel was delighted to have been a sponsor of the recent FSB UK Final Awards, held on May 9th at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. As this year is also FSB’s 50th anniversary, it held extra significance for this important and long-standing Markel partner.
The awards promote and showcase the very best of the UK's SMEs and self-employed individuals, who make up the majority of businesses in the UK. Markel recognises the vital role small businesses play in our economy and we are committed to supporting their success through our work with the FSB and an active annual calendar of FSB events that includes our sponsorship of these awards.
Service excellence – central to small business success
The FSB UK Final Awards culminated in a glittering gala evening, hosted by TV personality, Tess Daly. Markel’s divisional director of our partnerships division, Nicola Sumner, presented the prestigious Service Excellence Award to the well-deserving national winner – Vanlife Conversions, who specialise in bespoke, off-grid campervans.
“Service is so important to the prosperity of small businesses and their customers,” said Nicola Sumner. “Markel is a people-first business committed to servicing its own customers in the best possible way, each and every day, so we were delighted to present this award to such a deserving winner.”
Supporting FSB and its members beyond the awards
Markel’s participation in the event included taking a stand at the pre-awards FSB Expo, which was a great opportunity to meet face-to-face many of the members we provide services to.
Markel provides FSB members with valuable resources to help them manage the daily challenges of running a business:
- Dedicated FSB advice line - providing 24/7 legal and business advice to over 100,000 FSB members annually from Markel’s in-house team of lawyers. The advice line offers advice on Employment, Health & Safety and Debt Recovery matters, access to Markel’s Tax and VAT helpline, and access to a PR & Crisis Management helpline.
- FSB Legal and Business Hub - with hundreds of contract templates and informative guidance documents on anything from health and safety in the workplace to employment issues.
- FSB Legal Protection Insurance - legal expenses insurance designed just for small businesses, backed by 24/7 legal advice, expert tax guidance and online support.
The Expo also included a series of ‘fireside chats’ on various topics with Markel Law’s Mark Rankin interviewed by an FSB representative on the ‘A Legal Eye - Markel Law share insights on how small businesses can equip themselves to avoid legal disputes and how best to approach those that happen’ event.
The stories of resilience, innovation, and dedication are inspiring and Markel was incredibly impressed by all the SMEs stories at the awards. Markel is proud to be part of a community that supports and celebrates the achievements of small businesses which are, by most measures, the UK’s commercial engine room.