The Award, sponsored by England's Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), recognises the work of politicians who have excelled in understanding and representing the needs of smaller businesses.  

The FPB, which represents around 25,000 small and medium-sized businesses across the UK, has been asking its members to nominate those politicians they believe have fought on their behalf. Members of the FPB received information on how to nominate through the FPB's quarterly ballot, Referendum, the weekly eNewsletter and the website. A shortlist of eight nominees has been drawn up and Len Collinson, National Chairman of the FPB, says there is a strong field of candidates. 

"It is reassuring to know that there are politicians that have taken the time and effort to engage with the owners and managers of private businesses. Through this award, we aim to highlight the work of those legislators as an example for others to follow." 

The FPB believes that the owners and managers of smaller businesses play an integral part in the economy as a whole, creating wealth and job opportunities. That is why it has chosen to encourage politicians to engage with them and to represent them by creating the Business-friendly MP/MEP Award. 

The nominees for the Award are: Nigel Evans, MP for Ribble Valley; last year's winner, Malcolm Harbour, MEP for the West Midlands; Oliver Heald, MP for North East Hertfordshire; Philip Hollobone, MP for Kettering; Jeremy Hunt, MP for South West Surrey; Gilliam Merron, MP for Lincoln, Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness and John Penrose, MP for Weston-super-Mare.  

A panel of five judges will decide the winner of the Award on the basis of the work each politician has done for owner-managers of smaller firms and the comments given to the FPB by its members. The panel of judges are: Dr Fred Ayres, an owner-manager in Cumbria (and a non-executive director of the FPB); Pauline Birdsall, the founder with her husband of Key Air and Sea in Hayes; Len Collinson, National Chairman of the FPB; Alex Pratt, principal of seriousreaders.com and a director of South East of England Regional Development Agency (SEEDA) and Peter Walker, Managing Director, Vista Communications. 

The winner will be announced at a reception hosted by Andy Love MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Small Business Group, on Wednesday, 16 May in Room O of Portcullis House at the House of Commons.