Yorkshire vehicle hire firm wins Family Business of the Year at FSB Awards

Yorkshire’s largest independent vehicle-hire firm has won the FSB’s Family Business of the Year award for the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Arrow Self Drive beat off tough competition from Masons Yorkshire Gin, Towndoor, Agenda Screening and Belle Lingerie to win the regional award and will now compete against other regional winners for the FSB’s National Family Business of the Year.

Craig Kelly, an area manager for Arrow Self Drive, was presented with the award by 11-year-old Kaeden Bailey whose family business, Dreamee Teepees sponsored the category. Kaeden came up with the idea for the business with his mother Tara as she decided to start her own business to be able to free up more time to be able to manage her children’s medical needs.

Dreamee Teepees organises slumber parties for children, providing indoor tents and accessories for parties. The business has seen considerable success and was named one of the top 100 small businesses in the UK by Small Business Saturday. Dreamee Teepees also won an award at the event for triumph in the face of adversity.

On collecting the award, Craig Kelly commented:

“We’re delighted to be presented with this award from the FSB and it recognises the fact that we really are a proper Yorkshire family business, something we are very proud of. We’re also grateful to Kaeden for presenting the award to us so graciously and it was inspiring to hear his family’s story on their business and how they are going from strength to strength in the face of difficult circumstances.”

The FSB Awards for the Yorkshire and Humber region took place on Wednesday the 7th of March at the John Smiths Stadium in Huddersfield and was attended by a variety of the region’s leading businesses who had been shortlisted across a range of categories.

Arrow Self Drive was founded in 1988 by businessmen Robert Hill and Chris Taylor, with the partners initially selling commercial vehicles to local businesses from a garage on Manchester Road in Huddersfield. Today, the business is run by Robert’s son, James Hill.

Over the past thirty years, Arrow Self Drive has grown to become Yorkshire’s largest independent vehicle hire firm, with a fleet of more than 2,000 rental vehicles and more than 80 staff across the region.

The FSB Awards showcase the best small businesses from the length and breadth of the UK, offering national recognition for those who have made the biggest impression over the last year. Regional winners will compete in a national grand final at the Westminster Park Plaza in London on the 3rd of May 2018.

Commenting on the award win, Arrow Self Drive’s managing director, James Hill, said:

“We are honoured to receive this award from the FSB. We are very proud of the fact that we are a family run business and are especially delighted to be awarded the Yorkshire and Humber Family Business of the Year. Now in our thirtieth year, our family values and commitment to retaining our local approach with a high level of personal service is what we believe sets us apart from our competitors.

“Gaining recognition for our success in this area is a testament to our superb team of staff over eight depots and further enhances our reputation as a trustworthy and approachable business to deal with.”


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About Arrow Self Drive

Arrow Self Drive started in Huddersfield in 1988 and is a family run business with the aim of becoming the No 1 provider of vehicle hire in Yorkshire. From its humble beginnings the company has continued to steadily grow and today boasts a fleet of almost 2,000 rental vehicles with eight branches across Yorkshire and close to 100 staff on team. The success of Arrow Self Drive is due to the firm’s straightforward approach, personal service and focus on customer service excellence. The senior management team continue to steer the organisation and ensure that the business stays true to its Yorkshire values and maintain a personal approach as they expand into the future. For more information visit https://www.arrowselfdrive.com.