THE business advice agency that manages Tavistock's Tindle Enterprise Centre has won a major award in the face of competition from much larger organisations.
Enterprise Tamar, based at Launceston, won the competition, run by telephone company One 2 One, to find the most effective and innovative scheme to help small businesses.
The centre, which started in 1985 and has just five employees, operates like a citizens' advice bureau for businesses, providing free, confidential and independent information.
It prides itself on being pro-active and won the award for its extensive programme of informal cold call visits to inform, advise and help businesses to access the support available to them — more than 3,000 visits have been made and the programme has been extended to include farms.
It is understood that the judges' decision was unanimous.
Enterprise Tamar's director, David Stanbury, said he was 'astounded' by the award.
'We are particularly grateful for the financial help we received from both the Rural Development Commission and the European Union. Their help made it possible to carry out the visits and eventually to win this major national award.'
Enterprise Tamar can be contacted on 01566 775632.
The Tindle Enterprise Centre was set up in 1990 by Times owner Sir Ray Tindle and gives help to new small businesses.