Creative growth consultancy Carswell Gould is celebrating a major milestone after winning the prestigious Community Award for the South and Thames Valley region at The Small Business Growth Awards, presented by HSBC UK and the FSB.
Ed Gould, Creative Director at Carswell Gould and Founding Partner of Venturefest South, accepted the award at a regional celebration in Oxford on 28 April, recognising the consultancy’s contribution to supporting community business growth across the South.
The award highlights Carswell Gould’s longstanding commitment to building a thriving regional ecosystem, with recognition for its work with Venturefest South – the not-for-profit innovation programme that celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Carswell Gould has supported Venturefest South since its launch ten years ago, playing a pivotal role as founding delivery partner and lead strategist.
Over the past decade, Venturefest South has become a cornerstone of the region’s innovation landscape, engaging more than 50,000 businesses and innovators through events, programmes, and initiatives.
The annual Festival of Innovation continues to grow in scale and impact, achieving 28.9% year-on-year attendance growth and a 94% satisfaction rate among attendees in 2025. The platform has hosted over 150 live pitches, showcased 450 southern innovators, and introduced the region to more than £1 billion in funding and investment opportunities.
Ed Gould, Creative Director at Carswell Gould and Chair of Venturefest South, said:
“Winning the FSB/HSBC Small Business Growth Community Award for the South and Thames Valley is a huge honour and a reflection of the incredible business collaboration that exists across our region.
“Venturefest South was created to bring people together – to turn ideas into opportunities and support businesses to grow and scale. I’m immensely proud of the role Carswell Gould has played in building a platform that genuinely makes a difference, and this recognition belongs to everyone who has contributed to that journey over the past decade.
“The same thinking underpins how we work with our clients. We bring together strategy, technology and creativity to create work that delivers real impact and supports long-term growth.”
Carswell Gould has dedicated senior leadership time, consultancy resource, and strategic expertise to initiatives that benefit the wider business community. Through Venturefest South and programmes such as the Southern Creative Catalyst, Carswell Gould has helped create inclusive spaces where entrepreneurs, creatives, educators, investors, corporates, and public sector organisations can connect and collaborate.
This approach reflects how Carswell Gould works more broadly, blending strategy, technology and creativity to help organisations move from activity to measurable impact and sustained growth.
Beyond its work with Venturefest South, Carswell Gould actively supports the grassroots of the regional economy through mentoring programmes, university partnerships, and leadership roles across business networks. Carswell Gould’s involvement with organisations such as Southampton Chamber of Commerce, the RSA, and the FSB further reinforces its commitment to economic growth and resilience.
Carswell Gould’s community contribution is underpinned by strong values. Through sustainability initiatives, charity partnerships, and pro-bono work, Carswell Gould ensures its expertise is accessible to organisations creating social good.
This combination of leadership, measurable impact, and forward-thinking approach has positioned Carswell Gould as a driving force behind regional growth, demonstrating how connecting strategy, technology and creativity can support both community and commercial success.
Looking ahead, Carswell Gould will continue to build on this approach, helping people, places and brands achieve sustainable growth through impact-led work.
Carswell Gould’s Managing Director Gareth Miller will join Ed Gould at the FSB/HSBC Small Business Growth Awards National Final, taking place at The Savoy in London on 4 June 2026.
