I have nominated Kings Heath convenience store, Woodthorpe Provisions and Convenience Store on Woodthorpe Road for the Small Shop of the Year award.

The awards, run by the All Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group, recognise the hard work and excellent service that small, independent shops provide to the local community. I was keen to nominate Woodthorpe stores, which is owned by Mr Solanki and run by his son-in-law Girish Chauhan and has been open for at least 20 years. The family run business regularly raises money for deserving causes like the Poppy Appeal and the Haiti Appeal. It is open seven days a week between 7am and 9pmso serves the local community in Brandwood extensively.

Woodthorpe store is an excellent nominee for Small Shop of the Year: the shop is a thriving business because of the hard work of owners and the attention they give to customers.

I often shop there myself and can't think of a more deserving example of what Small Shop of the Year is about.

The criteria on which the competition will be judged includes: product, family/history, innovation, originality, investment and sustainability. A shortlist will be drawn up by members of the APPG and a winner selected by an independent person from the business community in the next coming weeks