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A Bristol business that created a women’s urinal and a Devon company that produces gifts from seaweed were among the winners at an awards ceremony held by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

Peequal, which was spun-out of the University of Bristol, took home two prizes at the 2023 FSB South West Small Business’ Awards, held at the Winter Gardens in Western-super-Mare.

The business, which has designed its urinal for large outdoor events such as festivals, won the Business & Product Innovation Award and was also named Start-up Business of the Year.

Peequal co-founder Amber Probyn said she was “delighted” to have won the two trophies which were among 12 handed out to SMEs and entrepreneurs from all across the region at the ceremony.

Mr Probyn said: “We are so grateful to have won these awards as we are determined to let people know what we are doing and having other businesses and the FSB champion us like this really helps us to get our message out.

“You have to have a really strong belief when you start a business that what you are doing is right and these awards, judged by people who really know what it is like, will help to validate that belief.”

Husband and wife team Stuart and Charlotte Baker of the Devon Seaweed Company, also expressed their delight at becoming the best family business in the region thanks to their fast-growing business of creating gifts and artwork from seaweed left on the county’s beaches.

Ms Baker said: “It is an incredible honour to have won,” said Charlotte. “The standard of entries was so high, and it is just overwhelming to have been chosen. We are immensely grateful.”