A dedicated family-run balloon business from the West Midlands has been officially recognised for its vital role in the local community. CC Balloons Wedding and Occasions, based in Rubery, Birmingham, has been crowned as West Bromwich Albion's local winner of the prestigious 'Behind the Badge' competition.
Celebrating Local Enterprise
This nationwide campaign is run by Sage, the Official Accounting Software Partner of the EFL. The initiative is designed to shine a spotlight on the small and mid-sized businesses that form the backbone of their communities. The competition invited fans from all EFL clubs to nominate local enterprises that make a genuine difference, from cafés and printers to essential services.
CC Balloons stood out for its unwavering support of football and youth sport in Rubery and the wider West Midlands area. The business, which has been creating bespoke balloon designs for weddings, parties, and events for over nine years, will receive a fantastic prize package. This includes EFL match tickets and a suite of Sage products aimed at helping the business thrive by streamlining its administrative tasks.
A Story of Resilience and Community
Director Claire Cross expressed her pride in the achievement. "We started the business nine years ago and we're proud to now have a regular customer base made up of our local community members," she said. "Winning Sage's competition will help us to reduce our admin hours and spend more time focusing on new business opportunities."
The win is particularly significant given the company's history. Despite having to rebuild from scratch after a fire, the resilient family business has gone from strength to strength, cementing its place as a key part of the local fabric.
National Recognition for Small Businesses
CC Balloons is one of a long list of small businesses across the country to be honoured. Among them, three grand prize winners have secured bespoke sponsorship packages with their local clubs. These are Chris's Fish & Chips (Leicester City), Prime Time Plumbing (Bradford City), and Monarch Mortgages (Gillingham).
Sally Moore, Global Head of Sponsorship at Sage, commented on the selection: "Behind every EFL Club is a dedicated network of small businesses working tirelessly to make a difference in their communities. Sage is proud to celebrate the businesses behind the badge who consistently support their communities and the Clubs they love."
The initiative also received praise from Emma Jones, UK Small Business Commissioner (CBE), who stated that the winners "exemplify the vital role small businesses play in strengthening our communities" and are the "backbone of local economies."
All winning businesses will be celebrated during the Sage Small Business Spotlight, running from 24th November across all three EFL Sky Bet leagues.
