The culmination of the Family Business of the Year Awards 2023 saw Make An Entrance take home the Small Family Business of the Year award at a gala awards evening held at The Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park in London.
Organised by Family Business United, these prestigious awards are now a firm fixture in the family business calendar and celebrate the very best of British family firms from all corners of the UK. Awards are given by region, sector and nationally in recognition of qualities such as entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability, community engagement and ultimately one family business is crowned the Supreme Champions.
As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United explains, “As an organisation we champion and celebrate family-owned businesses across the UK, recognising the contribution they make in terms of employment, income generation and wealth creation as well as the impact they have on the communities in which they operate.”
“Since 2012 these awards have grown to become something really special, recognising family firms from all sectors, young and multi-generational family firms alike, large and small but all sharing the same underlying values, pride and passion for what they do and a strong desire to do business the right way. Each of the winners is a great business with a strong narrative and is a great ambassador for the broader family business community too.”
Make An Entrance is a family-run business based in Lincolnshire. Founded from charitable roots, they have been operating online since 2005. They supply homes and businesses across the UK with made-to-measure door mats of every type.
Husband and wife team, Stuart and Samantha Burlton created the business, following in the footsteps of Stuart’s father Allen, who in the 1990s, managed a Royal School for the Blind factory, where visually impaired people were employed to make handmade mats.
The Burlton family has prevented this traditional skill from dying out and is now training a new generation of mat makers in their Lincolnshire workshops.
As James Shore, Head of Family Business at SME Capital who sponsored the Small Family Business of the Year award confirms: “The family have built an award-winning business with an incredible web presence and become a market leader in what they do, rekindling the art of a traditional craft that was being lost.”
"The duo behind the business are a formidable force and entrepreneurial in nature, treating others as they want to be treated themselves. They are professional and commercial, kind and valued as a business and a business at the heart of their community. Sustainability plays its part and innovation drives the business forward.”
“As a British manufacturer this business continues to evolve, innovate and their team work hard each and every day. A great family business and truly deserving winners of the Small Family Business of the Year title," concludes James.
Stuart & Samantha Burlton Co-Founders at Make An Entrance added: “We are so proud that the business we created together, following in the footsteps of Stuart’s father Allen has been recognised by these prestigious awards. Running a small family business is hard work at times and the last few years have presented significant challenges for us as UK manufacturers. To win this award is an enormous pat on the back for all the hard work of our entire team, who diligently put in the work every day for our customers. We are a family business and we count all our employees as members of that family, so this is a win for the whole team."
As Paul concludes, “Family businesses are the engine room of the UK economy and these awards celebrate their contribution. It was great to bring the family business community back together in person to recognise the incredible family firms that operate throughout the UK and to crown some fantastic winners.”
“Congratulations to Make An Entrance on winning this award. It is fantastic recognition of what they do as a business and it was a pleasure to present them with the award during a fantastic evening that once more put the family business sector on the map.”
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