Santander is to sponsor the SME of the Year Award at the National Business Awards Ceremony & Dinner, which will take place on November 10 in the Great Ballroom at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane.

The award will be presented to the business that best demonstrates significant growth and innovation in its market sector, under-pinned by strong financial performance.

Thousands of business owners and C-suite executives entered The National Business Awards this year where twelve businesses have been named as finalists in the Santander SME of the Year Award category.

Steve Pateman, Head of Santander Corporate Banking said: “Santander is delighted to support the National Business Awards. Small and Medium-size Enterprises are the lifeblood of the UK economy and it is important that we support and recognise the achievements of British entrepreneurs.

“Santander understands the challenges faced by SMEs, and we can provide a full range of banking services and long-term support for businesses, whatever the financial climate. We have a clear strategy to become the bank of choice for businesses of all sizes and as one of the world’s best capitalised banks, with an exceptional balance sheet, global diversity, a variety of funding sources and a prudent approach to risk we are well placed to achieve this aim.”