Luxury holiday accommodation company Unique Home Stays has been listed to the Smarta 100, an index of “the UK’s savviest, supremely disruptive, most resourceful and socially-beneficial small businesses”.
It highlights the achievements of Unique Home Stays “started by a single mum with £500 and now turning over in excess of £5 million”.
More than a quarter of companies on the Smarta 100 are female-run businesses and two thirds are self-funded, with just 9% borrowing from a bank. Over a quarter have taken angel, private equity or VC funding.
Deborah Meaden, Dragons’ Den investor and Smarta board member, said: “This year’s Smarta 100 showcases the fantastic breadth of small businesses making waves in the UK business scene.
“And it’s not just all about cutting-edge tech companies either – this year’s Smarta 100 goes to show that any sector, however traditional, can be given an exciting injection of innovation when a great entrepreneurial mind takes it on.”
Unique Home Stays’ owner, Sarah Stanley, said: “We are absolutely delighted that we’ve been recognised as one of the UK’s most dynamic and innovative small businesses in the Smarta 100 winner’s list.”
Voting is now under way to find the overall O2 Smarta 100 Business of the Year, winning £10k courtesy of O2. To vote for Unique Home Stays, click here.
