Local Beckenham businessman, Piyush Patel, recently took home two top awards at the FSB’s conference in Edinburgh. He was named both Greater London’s No 1 Membership Advisor and National Best Newcomer at the ceremony last month at The Waldorf Astoria in Edinburgh, despite only being an FSB Advisor for twelve months.

Patel, who took on the self-employed role with the FSB last October, said he was ‘surprised but delighted’ to take home the two awards. He puts his success down to the support local businesses give him.

“These awards are down to all the small businesses – both members and supporters of the FSB and the local business community – who believe in and support me,” said Patel. “Without them engaging with me and recognising how I can help them, I would not have won either award.”

After a 20-year career running his own insurance business, Patel decided to take a step back from the insurance industry last year. Since becoming an FSB Membership Advisor, he’s been successfully recruiting 25-30 new FSB members on average each month, across Bromley, Croydon, Harrow, North West London and Ealing.

“I felt it was time for me to give something back,” he explained. “I love what the FSB does and how they support small businesses and I wanted to help. For me, it’s about engaging with the small business community, doing lots of networking, giving talks and showing them how the FSB can help them grow their business. I’m leading by example and truly inspired by all the businesses I meet. I’m helping them to develop, grow and make connections that will benefit their businesses. Failure, for me, is not an option. I love it, though. It doesn’t feel like work.”

Chandra Sharma, of Tangent Office Resources and FSB Lead Representative in the London Borough of Bromley, said: “Piyush is a highly driven, incredibly motivated individual who has a genuine passion for helping small businesses. He takes his time to explain the benefits of FSB membership and goes out of his way to help promote and connect his members to various opportunities. I am thrilled, but not surprised, that Piyush has been honoured with these two awards.”

As the UK’s largest business representation group, the FSB offers its members a wide range of vital business services including advice, financial expertise, support and a powerful voice in government. To find out more or become a member, contact Piyush Patel on 07539 271917or visit https://join.fsb.org.uk/ma/12500220