BORDERS MP John Lamont has announced the winners of his Scottish Borders Small Business Awards 2023.

The local MP published the first of the competition winners on Small Business Saturday, which took place on December 2 this year.

He has now announced all the winning entries following a Borders-wide competition where local small businesses received hundreds of nominations from the public.

Border Telegraph: MP John Lamont's Scottish Borders Small Business Awards 2023 Wonky GiraffeMP John Lamont's Scottish Borders Small Business Awards 2023 Wonky Giraffe

The winning businesses for 2023 include: The Wonky Giraffe, Kelso; Fostons Fine Meats, Duns; Naked Sour Dough, Kelso; Borders Podiatry and Performance Clinic, Galashiels; Robson Flooring, Tweedbank; Hair by Louise, Ayton; and Baguette Express, Hawick.

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This is the second year that John Lamont MP has held Small Business Awards in the run up to Christmas. Last year, the six award winners were WK Hair Design & Beauty in Galashiels; Gordon Arms Bar & Cafe in Gordon; KD Fit in Kelso; R&L Taxis in Selkirk; the Ancrum Pantry in Ancrum; and Think Fitness 4 Less in Hawick.

Border Telegraph: MP John Lamont's Scottish Borders Small Business Awards 2023 Borders Podiatry and Performance ClinicMP John Lamont's Scottish Borders Small Business Awards 2023 Borders Podiatry and Performance Clinic

Mr Lamont said: "Congratulations to the worthy winners of my Small Business Awards competition this year.

"Thank you to the hundreds of people across the Borders who submitted entries for their best-loved local shops and services.

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"Nominations came flooding in for dozens of brilliant small businesses from all sorts of sectors and industries.

"I'm delighted to acknowledge just a few of the many superb companies that call the Scottish Borders home.

Border Telegraph: MP John Lamont's Scottish Borders Small Business Awards 2023 Robson FlooringMP John Lamont's Scottish Borders Small Business Awards 2023 Robson Flooring

"The idea behind these awards is to recognise great businesses serving our communities and to encourage more people to shop locally around the festive break.

"The weeks around Christmas can be a pivotal time for many small businesses who rely on the support of local people so they can keep providing jobs and playing a vital role in our communities.

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"In 2023 and beyond, please support all of the outstanding local businesses you can so that our high streets keep progressing and small enterprises grow even stronger."