Flintshire Dog Friendly Digital Platform Shortlisted for Small Award

Dog Friendly Destinations based in Flintshire has been shortlisted for the Digital Star Award at this year’s Small Awards.

Now in its sixth year, The Small Awards is a nationwide search for the smallest and greatest firms in the UK, across all sectors. It is organised annually by Small Business Britain, which champions, inspires and accelerates the nation’s 6 million small firms.

Dog Friendly Destinations was founded by Lauren Jones and Rachel Southern in 2020 and showcases the UK’s best places to stay, eat and go where dogs are thoroughly welcomed. Following a record-breaking number of applications, it has been chosen as one of eight finalists for the Digital Star Award for best digital only business that recognises small businesses that operate only through digital channels, using the internet to market, sell and promote their product and service. The award celebrates strong use of digital channels to engage customers, innovation in web design and functionality, and growth in audience over time.

With eleven unique categories, the Small Awards celebrate the dynamism and resilience of the UK’s small business sector, across everything from mission-led start-ups, to longstanding family firms, to the nation’s leading sole traders.

“The Small Awards is an opportunity to applaud all the inspiring, positive things that these fabulous, finalist entrepreneurs have achieved over the last year, particularly as we start to move forwards once again,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain.

“The phenomenal number of applications, and their incredibly high standard, has been fantastic to see. Dog Friendly Destinations should be extremely proud of being shortlisted for this award. The Small Awards is all about championing and spotlighting the nation’s small firms, and we’re so excited to finally be able to celebrate with them again in person this year.”

Lauren Jones, Co-Founder of Dog Friendly Destinations said: “It’s a complete shock and a huge honour to reach the finals of The Small Awards. Rachel and I are both delighted to be amongst such great company and be recognised as a thriving digital business. Win or lose, we’re thrilled. It’s great to be recognised for our efforts over the past 18 months.

“It’s been a tough two years for the travel industry but since restrictions eased, we’ve seen a surge in people looking for dog friendly getaways. We’re continually hunting down more and more holiday properties for the website and creating content for our ever-growing community on social media. It’s keeping us very busy and we couldn’t be happier.”

Judged by a panel of enterprise experts, the winners of all categories, along with the overall winner of Small Business of the Year, will be announced on 19 May 2022.

After being held online for two years due to the pandemic, the awards ceremony will return in person this year to take place at St John’s Church in London. Plans are underway for a fun-filled night of celebrations, with small business owners and industry leaders coming together for an evening of inspiring speeches, entertainment, dinner and more!