Julu Ltd from Ross-on-Wye won the Business and Product Innovation category at the West Midlands heat of the Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) Awards for their clever product, The Laundry Ladder.

The Laundry Ladder is an alternative way to dry clothes, designed to be useful in homes without high ceilings where the old-fasioned pulley-maid cannot be used.

The West Midlands heat of the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2018 took place on Friday, March 16th at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham. The eventis organised to recognise and celebrate the most outstanding smaller businesses in the region.

There were 32 finalists competing across 12 award categories including three from Herefordshire. Julu Ltd were joined by Voodoochilli Design and Mills Mobility Aids, both from Hereford. Of these three, Julu and Voodoochilli Design went on to win category awards.

Ladder. Meanwhile, web design company Voodoo Chilli Design won the Community Award in recognition of their help and support for local causes over many years.

FSB Herefordshire Lead, Richard Asghar Sandys said: “These are fantastic and well-deserved achievements by these two Herefordshire-based businesses. I wish them both every success for the future – including when they join the other West Midlands winners to compete in the national FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2018 final”.

Julia Adams, joint director of Julu, attended the awards ceremony and commented: “It’s been an amazing day. I am proud of the Laundry Ladder and of being one of two companies from Herefordshire to collect an award”.

All 12 of the West Midlands’ category winners will go through to the UK national FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2018 final. This will take place at the prestigious Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge, London on Thursday, May 3rd. It will be a high profile event, with attendees from the worlds of business, politics, enterprise and the media.