LONDON, October 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
- Major London brands support Dot London in celebrating the capital's successful small business community
- Small businesses make up 98 percent of the capital's registered businesses
Dot London, the capital's unique domain name, has teamed up with the newest addition to BBC's 'Dragons' Den', entrepreneur Sarah Willingham, to launch the Dot London Small Business Awards 2015 (http://www.awards.london) which aim to celebrate the success of London's thriving small business sector.
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Sarah Willingham will be leading a judging panel made up of some of London's most established brands, including health-led fast-food chain, LEON; folding bicycles pioneers, Brompton Bikes; online designer furniture retailers, Made.com; craft beer brewers, Meantime Brewery; and fashion and gift retailer, Oliver Bonas.
There will also be a representative from global tech giants Google; the capital's official city guide, VisitLondon.com; leading charity organization, the London Community Foundation; social media experts, Be Social Global; and former BBC Apprentice finalist and CEO of grocery shopping app, Whisk.com, Nick Holzherr.
Speaking at the launch, head judge of the Dot London Small Business Awards, Sarah Willingham, said: "London is a city full of opportunities for entrepreneurs keen to try their hand at starting and running their own businesses. The city is buzzing with new ideas and investors who want to support the next big thing, so the Dot London Small Business Awards are a great opportunity for us to pay homage to the capital's successful business start-ups."
The Dot London Small Business Awards is open for entries today, to mark Dot London's first anniversary, and will include 13 categories spanning the diverse industries that make up London's business infrastructure, including hospitality, retail, creative services, social enterprises and start-ups. From 'Best Place to Eat' to 'Young Entrepreneur of 2015', the awards will acknowledge the success of London's small businesses and highlight their contribution to the capital's reputation as a global destination for tourism, entertainment and commerce.
According to recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), London has the highest concentration of small businesses in the UK, with one-in-six of the total number of small businesses registered in 2014* being based in the capital. With over 392,000 small businesses in London in 2014, 28,000 more than the previous year, the sector is growing at a higher rate than medium and large enterprises, making up a staggering 98 percent of all companies registered in the capital.
Since its launch, the Dot London suffix has become essential for some of London's leading icons and businesses, including visitor attractions, ZSL London Zoo and Museum of London; the newest edition to the city's skyline, Sky Garden; and globally renowned creative agency, Publicis. A number of the capital's new small businesses have also chosen to launch using Dot London web addresses, such as virtual personal assistant and business concierge, Fyxer; Camden-based gin distillery and brand, Half Hitch; and luxury food delivery service, Supper.
For more information about Dot London visit: domains.london
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