Inksters takes UK small business title

A Scottish legal firm has won a UK-wide small business award.

Inksters was named Self-Employed/Sole Trader of the Year at the Federation of Small Businesses ("FSB") Awards held in Glasgow on Thursday and hosted by TV personalities Clare Balding and JJ Chalmers.

After winning the Scottish regional heat for this award in March, Inksters was up against 11 other regional finalists for the UK title.

Congratulating the firm's founder Brian Inkster, FSB Scotland chair Andy Aird, said: "Brian impressed the judges with the transformation he introduced to his company during the pandemic which transitioned it to a law firm where solicitors are all self-employed/sole traders. Brian himself operates as a sole trader supported by a range of self-employed solicitors in offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Eigg, Forfar, Inverness, Lerwick, Portree, Thurso and Wick, with back office support provided from a base in Glasgow.

"Going it alone in business is no mean feat, so it’s important to recognise and celebrate the tenacity and drive it takes to do so.

"It takes grit and talent to thrive in the face of constant challenges but, despite all the headwind, this is a brilliant example of ingenuity, innovation, creativity – a perfect illustration of how vital small businesses and the self-employed are to the economy and to our communities."

Accepting the award, Mr Inkster told Clare Balding about Inksters’ fee-sharing law firm model where other sole traders operate under Inksters’ umbrella. In effect, he said, “we are allowing sole traders to flourish”.

Clare Balding replied: "I love that because you are like the perfect parent: you look after them and let them do what they want."

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who also spoke at the ceremony, congratulated the winners and said that "all of us owe you a huge debt of gratitude for all the dedication, effort, ingenuity, creativity and the resilience – particularly over the past two years – that you have shown".