SME awards announced

Franchise India in association with Process Advisor Ernst & Young, has announced the Small Business Awards. The two-day event culminated on August 29, 2010. Both the companies jointly recognised and felicitated innovators and achievers contributing the growth of SME industry across India. The awards were conferred across categories such as Retail business of the year, Educational business of the year, Women entrepreneur of the year and many more.

In the manufacturing sector under the micro category the award was given to the Champion Industries, while Fountainhead Exports got the best small manufacturing unit of the year award. In the service sector, under F&B category, Lite Bite Foods Pvt Ltd won the title and Jetking Infotrain got the award for the best retail business. For Transport and Logistics Business, Agarwal Packers &Movers received the award while Drishti-Soft Solutions got in IT &ITES business. Chokhi Dhani Resorts won the Travel and Tourism business award and Ayurvet Ltd got the Agri business award. Under Professional service business category, BCL Secure Premises received the title. Naturals beauty salon won the Healthcare & beauty business award while Entertainment World Developers got the award for Real Estate company of the year.

Under the individual awards category, the best women entrepreneur of the year was given to Neeta Lulla, Start-up award went to RE/MAX India whereas lifetime appreciation award went to Metro Shoes Ltd. In the Supplier awards category, the small business banker went to Punjab National Bank, Small business technology went to Bharti Airtel while the small business mentor was awarded to National Small Industries. The Top honour award for the small business of the year went to Chhabra 555.

During the course of the two-day congress, there were panel discussions, workshops and talk series by industry experts on the art of entrepreneurship and the process of transition of small businesses into the big league. Speaking on the occasion, Gaurav Marya, President Franchise India said, “Over the past eleven years, Franchise India has been a pioneer in promoting SME’s and entrepreneurial ventures. Through this endeavour of Franchise India, we recognise the success stories in the SME sector and give them a national platform and voice. The SME sector plays an important role in fueling the growth of the economy, comprising 45 per cent of the entire industrial output in the country and contributing to about 40 per cent of India’s exports.”

Bharat Kapoor, Sr Manager, Ernst & Young-Risk Advisory Services said, “Ernst & Young has assisted Franchise India in institutionalising the process for Small Business Awards 2010. Our role included reviewing the award concept, assisting Franchise India in validating the nominations and winner determination process, facilitating Jury proceedings and acting as Official Tabulator for the Small Business Awards 2010."