Sandwell Based Corporate Greeting Card Manufacturer finalist for New Green Growth
24 Feb 2025
Published in: Member News
Local business, Curious Pencil Ltd a corporate greeting card manufacturer, has made it to the final of awards after impressing judges for their approach to driving growth through sustainability. ?
Curious Pencil Ltd from Sandwell, a small corporate greeting card manufacturing company has been selected as a finalist for the first-ever ‘Green Growth Awards’, a new national competition recognising small businesses leading the way in embracing sustainability to innovate and drive business growth.
Launched by Small Business Britain, in partnership with BT, the inaugural Green Growth Awards will award two sustainability grants of £5000 to two small businesses that have successfully boosted their bottom line by implementing sustainable initiatives. The grants will help provide additional funding for businesses to invest further in this area.
Simone Smith, co-founder of Curious Pencil Ltd, has reached the final round of the awards after impressing judges with the company’s commitment to green growth. Since 2018, Curious Pencil Ltd has specialised in hand-illustrated, personalised corporate greeting cards, helping businesses express appreciation and build meaningful connections. Sustainability is central to what they do. Their greeting cards offer a unique, eco-friendly alternative to traditional corporate gifts, serving as cherished keepsakes rather than plastic or other disposable items. The cards are made from recyclable, FSC-certified materials and printed on-demand to minimise waste.
Beyond materials, the company collaborates with artists and suppliers in the UK, to reduce its carbon footprint while supporting the community. They also partner with a respected tree-planting organisation for reforestation efforts and donate monthly to a local youth centre charity, as they believe it’s about creating a better future in all aspects.
On being named a finalist, Simone Smith said: “It’s great to be recognised for the work that we do. We understand we are a printed product, but wanted to strike a balance between the importance of human connection through a physical card, but also thinking of our planet. We have exciting plans for furthering our sustainable efforts with seed paper cards in the future and hope to continue develop our impact.”
“The Green Growth Awards recognise the outstanding small businesses that are not only leading the way in sustainability but are also using it to fuel innovation and growth,” says Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain.
“These businesses are proving that greener practices not only benefit the planet but also create real business success - whether through cost savings, waste reduction, or deeper customer engagement. Their passion and commitment are making a real impact on their communities and the economy.”
The nation’s 5.5m small businesses are estimated to represent half of the UK’s business emissions and the Green Growth Awards has been launched as part of Small Business Britain’s ongoing partnership with BT to empower UK small businesses to better understand their environmental impact and embrace more sustainable practices and growth opportunities.
“The Green Growth Awards shine a spotlight on the small businesses that are not only driving sustainability but also setting the standard for innovation and growth,” said Chris Sims, Chief Commercial Officer, UK Business, at BT.
“It’s truly inspiring to see how these businesses are leveraging sustainable practices to achieve real business success and create positive change in their communities. We’re really proud to support this initiative.”
BT is also a member of the Willow Review Steering Board; a new independent review aiming to underline the financial case for sustainability for small businesses, which has been spearheaded by Small Business Britain and is backed by the UK Government. ?
The winners of the Green Growth Awards will be announced at a special event at BT’s Headquarters in London on 11 March 2025.
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