OBSERVER AND GAZETTE BUSINESS AWARDS: Small firms getting support

Sponsor David McDonald of the Martlet Partnership presents the Business Personality Award to Dawn Gracie. Picture by Louise Adams

David Macdonald, founder of Worthing accountancy firm the Martlet Partnership, said: “We like to try to ensure that any of our clients who are eligible for the awards do go for them, because of the very beneficial impact it has on the ability to promote their business and the boost it gives their staff.”

He also said being a sponsor had its benefits, too: “It is also getting our name out there.

“We have always had a lot of new clients, but the rate of new clients has increased since we started sponsoring the awards. We feel very positive about it.”

The category the firm is sponsoring is also close to its heart, and Mr Macdonald said: “The majority of our clients are small businesses, we see ourselves as a firm which helps the small businesses on their journey to greater things.

“We feel fairly close to small businesses.”

The Martlet Partnership has been established for more than 18 years, and Mr MacDonald said he had sponsored the Observer and Gazette Business Awards for three or four years now.

As a successful business, employing 23 people, Mr Macdonald said things were going from strength to strength.

“We have been growing very steadily, but our pace of growth has recently increased,” he said.

“We’ve increased our workforce by 15 per cent in past three months.

“We expect to take more people on as the year goes on.

“We are very positive. We consider our continued growth to be a reflection – most of our growth comes from our own clients.

“We would not be  achieving the high uptake of clients if we were not delivering to our current clients.”

To get involved in the Observer and Gazette Business Awards, and to apply for the Small Business category, visit http://www.jpsouthevents.co.uk/event/observer-gazette-business-awards-2014/