The presentation of the award, which recognises the work of politicians who have excelled in understanding and championing the needs of smaller businesses in the UK, took place in a ceremony at Portcullis House in Westminster yesterday evening.

The FPB's National Chairman, Len Collinson, presented Mr Wills with the award. He praised the MP for standing up for small firms in Swindon.

"The FPB provides the owners of small businesses with a political voice that they would otherwise not have," he said. "All of these politicians were shortlisted for the 2008 business-friendly MP/MEP award because they were nominated by the business owners who are directly affected by issues such tax and red tape, and who rely on their elected representatives and organisations like the FPB to fight their corner.

Mr Collinson added: "The FPB is often critical of government policies or inaction. However, it is refreshing to see that there are politicians – many of whom hold, or have held, prominent positions in their respective parties – who are determined to stand up for small businesses, and who recognise the fact that encouraging entrepreneurship is essential for the good of the economy."

This year the FPB, which represents around 25,000 small and medium-sized businesses across the UK, opened up the competition to allow non-members to nominate politicians for the award. Members were able to keep track of the nominations by logging on to the FPB's website, www.fpb.org, through the media and via the FPB's weekly eNewsletter.

The decision to award to Mr Wills with the accolade was made by a panel of five judges. They were: Len Collinson; Jane Caven, managing director of Sage Green (and a non-executive director of the FPB); Howard Jackson, managing director of HCSS Education; Peter Walker, managing director of Vista Communications; and Mike Hill, Head of Enterprise, Skills and Strategy at the North West Regional Development Agency, which is the current lead RDA.

"England's RDAs are delighted to have supported this important award as we know that smaller businesses make a significant contribution in driving our regional economies, attracting investment, and creating jobs," said Mr Hill. "MPs and MEPs can play an important role by taking up a particular concern of small businesses within their constituencies and in the case of this year's winner, Michael Wills, there was clear evidence that he made a real difference by providing significant support to a small business in dealing with Government regulations.

"England's RDAs are delighted that, through these awards, the efforts of MPs and MEPs are recognised."

The reception was hosted by Mr Collinson and Andy Love MP, the Labour MP for Edmonton and Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Small Business Group. Mr Love congratulated the North Swindon MP on winning the award.

"There has been an exceptionally strong field of nominees this year. Judging by some of the comments made by the business owners who put them forward for the award, these politicians all deserve to be recognised for what they have done to champion small businesses in their constituencies and beyond," he said. "Whether standing up and speaking out on behalf of small businesses in Parliament, or taking up the cause by writing letters and otherwise representing entrepreneurs, there are MPs who are committed to making a difference by tackling the obstacles that prevent businesses from surviving and flourishing. It is encouraging that the FPB continues to recognise this in its annual business-friendly MP/MEP award."

First elected to Parliament in 1997, Mr Wills graduated from Clare College, Cambridge in 1973. Following a career with the Diplomatic Service at the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices, and later as Second Secretary and Labour Attaché in New Delhi, he landed a job as a current affairs researcher for ITV, becoming a producer in 1982.

In 1985, Mr Wills founded Juniper, an independent television production company. He was its producer, director and managing director until 1997. At the same time, he was an adviser to the Shadow Cabinet on defence, trade and industry and Treasury matters. During the 1992 General Election, Mr Wills worked as a media adviser to the Trade and Industry team.

He was appointed as Minister for Small Firms in 1999, and Minister for Learning and Technology a year later. He has also been the Minister at the Lord Chancellor's department and Home Office, and was appointed as the Minister of State for Constitutional Renewal at the Ministry of Justice in July 2007.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Wills emphasised that campaigning on behalf of small businesses should reach across political divides, saying every MP needed to be active in their support, in particular in tackling the burden of red tape. He was nominated by a constituent business owner after helping him to settle a dispute with the Health & Safety Executive, which had left his farm facing closure.

"I am thrilled to have won this award. I am grateful to Rupert Burr of Roves Farm for nominating me, but I am even more pleased that I was able to be of some assistance to him over the past few years," said Mr Wills. "He is a model entrepreneur and he has made Roves Farm something all Swindonians can be proud of."

The other nominees for the award – now in its third year – were (surnames in alphabetical order): Bob Blizzard (Labour MP for Waveney); Tim Boswell (Conservative MP for Daventry); Lorely Burt (Liberal Democrat MP for Solihull); Bruce George (Labour MP for Walsall South); Oliver Heald (Conservative MP for Hertfordshire North East); Philip Hollobone (Conservative MP for Kettering); the Rt Hon David Maclean (Conservative MP for Penrith and the Border); George Osborne (Conservative MP for Tatton); John Penrose (Conservative MP for Weston-super-Mare); Rob Wilson (Conservative MP for Reading East); Derek Wyatt (Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey); Sir George Young (Conservative MP for North West Hampshire).