More than 200 people gathered in Liverpool to see the winners of the Good Small Business Awards 2025 revealed. Tony McDonough reports

 

Some of the UK’s most inspiring small business leaders, changemakers, and innovators were recognised at an awards ceremony in Liverpool.

More than 200 people, including entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and social innovators, packed into the Liner Hotel in the city centre to see the winners of the Good Small Business Awards revealed.

Now a well established event, the Good Small Business Awards has grown from a Liverpool city region focused event to one that recognises the excellence of small businesses from across the UK.

Hosted by ITV presenter Emma Jesson of ITV and radio presenter Roy Basnett, the evening celebrated “purpose-driven” businesses that are proving “small enterprises can lead the way in sustainability, inclusivity, innovation, and community impact”.

Co-founder Garth Dallas described the event as “a testament to what good business looks like — not just successful, but socially responsible, collaborative, and committed to leaving a positive legacy”.

Attendees were encouraged to “connect, collaborate, and champion each other’s missions”, reinforcing the awards’ ethos of building a genuine community of practice among good small businesses.

The evening also featured the Live Impact Hub, showcasing finalist stories and encouraging knowledge exchange on sustainable and inclusive growth.

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Organisers define a ‘good business’ as one which “focuses on the good, understands its impacts and takes conscious and ongoing steps to ensure that not only does it reduce harmful impacts, but that this impact is good – for people, for communities, for the planet.

They add: “These are organisations that choose to invest profits in creating more positive impacts in the world. This, for us, is the definition of a good business.”

Full list of winners and highly commended businesses:

Sustainable Technology Award

Winner: Xampla

Highly Commended: Tech1M

Sustainable Disruptor Award

Winner: Think Wine Group

Highly Commended: Waring Brooke

Circular Economy Award

Winner: Edinburgh Remakery

Highly Commended: Muggi

Sustainable Innovation Award

Winner: Nanoplume

Highly Commended: Simprints

Sustainability Leadership Award

Winner: Gillian Ashcroft – Think Tank Academy

Highly Commended: Paul Starbuck – Starbuck & Associates

Highly Commended: Keith Roberts – Consortia Integrated Services

Community Social Impact Award

Winner: Merseyside Expanding Horizons

Highly Commended: Women’s Work Lab

Diversity & Inclusion Champion

Winner: Sankofa Care Services

Health & Wellbeing Champion

Winner: The Sinclair Method UK

Digital & Creative Champion

Winner: Craft Courses

Highly Commended: Harker

Net Zero Champion

Winner: Tunley Environmental

Retail & Wholesale Champion

Winner: Ganders Goat

Manufacturing Champion

Winner: Really Recycle

Highly Commended: Joy and Joe Baby Wraps

Hospitality Champion

Winner: The Art School Restaurant

Special Recognition Award

Winner: Liverpool Heartbeat

Maggi Toft Award for Women in Technology

Winner: Dr Lynn Borthwick

The Good Small Business of the Year 2025

Winner: Really Recycle

For more information on the Good Small Business Awards click here.