SWINDON FINANCIAL ADVISOR DAVE SOUTHBY SHORTLISTED FOR BUSINESS AWARDS

Swindon businessman and founder of Dave Southby Financial Planning, Dave Southby, has been shortlisted for regional business awards that recognise his impressive success since he started his business in 2021, as well as his ethos to give back to the community.

Dave Southby, who is aged 30 and from Wroughton, has been shortlisted in two categories in the South-West Business Awards after quickly building a highly successful business and becoming a pillar of the local community. He says it’s very rewarding to get this kind of recognition.

“It’s amazing to have been shortlisted for these awards and it’s such a great way to start the year,” said Dave. “Starting a new business during the pandemic was a risk but I was determined to make it work. Being shortlisted for these awards at this point is incredibly satisfying and I’d really like to take this opportunity to thank the judges.” 

The South-West Business Awards celebrate the achievements of businesses, charities and inspirational individuals across the region. Categories include Business of the Year, SME of the Year, Female Entrepreneur of the Year and Business Leader of the Year. Dave Southby has been shortlisted in the categories of Outstanding Contribution to the Community and Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Dave set up Dave Southby Financial Planning in 2021 after deciding it was time for a career change. Studying for his financial planning exams during lockdown, he went on to establish his company and was very clear that he wanted it to be a force for good in the local area. 

“It was a time when community seemed more important than ever,” said Dave, “and I wanted my business to be an entity that would bring people together, improve their lives and contribute to a thriving local community.” The business turned over more than £80K in its first year of trading and is now a local employer, with Dave having keen ambitions for rapid growth. 

“It’s been really hard work but I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved,” said Dave, “and I’m very excited about the future. I’ve always wanted to start my own business and it just goes to show how important it is to follow your dreams.”

Giving back to the community is just as important to Dave as business growth, however, and it’s his huge contribution to the local area that is being recognised, by him making it onto the shortlist for the Outstanding Contribution to the Community award. As well as running a business club in Wroughton for people in the early stages of starting their own businesses, Dave is chair of two networking organisations and sponsors the kit for Wroughton Tornadoes Football Club. His business also actively supports the region’s environmental commitments to become carbon neutral and his turnover is directly connected to a tree-planting initiative. In addition to all this, across 2023 Dave raised money for his local branch of mental health charity, MIND, by taking part in a series of sponsored events. The events included walking from Stonehenge to Avebury, running a charity golf day and running a 10K race at Westonbirt Arboretum.

“I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved so far with my business in terms of the conventional measures of success,” said Dave. “But I think, more than anything, I’m really proud of what having the business enables me to do to help the local area and the people who make up the community. It’s something I’m looking forward to doing even more of in 2024.”

The South-West Business Awards ceremony takes place on Thursday February 1 at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Swindon. Judges include Jackie Chappell, the first woman CEO of British Rail; and Paul Waite, Managing Director of one of the country’s leading accountancy firms, Aspen Waite, based in the South-West. For more information about Dave Southby visit https://www.davesouthbyfp.co.uk