AN Urmston based artisan producer of spice rubs and sauces recently received a ‘Small Business Sunday’ award from former 'Dragon' Theo Paphitis.

The #SBS event held at the ICC in Birmingham at the beginning of February showcased the very best of small business with workshops, networking opportunities and the chance to speak with business experts throughout the day.

Businesses were also able to question a panel of experts to find out invaluable information during the event with a question panel consisting of Theo, Dragon’s Den Deborah Meaden and JML founder John Mills.

#SBS is a weekly initiative, set up by Theo in 2010, which now has more than 2000 #SBS winners and supports small businesses in the UK. Business and retail entrepreneur and self-confessed Shopkeeper, Theo re?tweeted the Smokey Carter’s message to his 500,000 plus followers last July.

They are also profiled on the #SBS website that is exclusive to all Small Business Sunday winners.

Small business champion and entrepreneur Theo Paphitis said: “We are thrilled to welcome new #SBS members every week and highlight just how important it is to support our small businesses here in the UK.

"My vision is that everyone who has ever won an #SBS re-tweet from me becomes part of a friendly club; like-minded individuals who can share successes and learnings. The website and Shop #SBS will also give a valuable profile to the winners chosen and I wish The Smokey Carter every success.”

#SBS Winners now also have access to the exclusive members’ selling platform www.shopsbs.co.uk where hundreds of winners are already selling thousands of products, from unique gifts and bespoke furniture to pet toys or jewellery. It is another opportunity for the #SBS winners to turn tweets into sales.

You can find products by The Smokey Carter on their website and a number of online retailers including Amazon, ebay and Not on The High Street. They also have their range of award winning sauces and spice rubs in a number of deli’s around Manchester and just this week have secured two brand new stockists – Barbakan Deli in Chorlton and Urmston’s very own Craft Bottleshop Brewtique which opened its doors this week selling the very best of British craft beer.

Anyone looking for a re?tweet from Theo should tweet him about their business on Sunday between 5 PM and 7.30 PM and include the hashtag #SBS.

Six lucky businesses are re?tweeted every Monday at 8 PM and then invited to enter their profile on the new website, attend the annual #SBS networking event and take advantage of the networking opportunities.