Theo Paphitis awards Billingshurst company

The high-profile businessman chose Pied A Terre Adventures (PATA) as one of six companies in his Small Business Sunday initiative on the social media platform on June 31.

The family-run company has also been profiled on Theo’s SBS website.

Kirstie Betts, one of the company’s founders and directors, tweeted Theo and he re-tweeted her message to his 350,000 followers.

Mrs Betts said: “Theo receives thousands of entries every week for this prestigious award and naturally we are delighted and proud we stood out as something unique.

Around 200 people subsequently ‘followed’ the two-year-old company on Twitter.

She added: “We are passionate about the outdoors and want to enable others to make the most of it too.

“Theo has recognised our hard work and dedication and helped spread the word about our innovative approach to enjoying the ‘Great Outdoors’ to his followers on Twitter and beyond.”

PATA offers walking and orienteering activities in UK National Parks, operating mainly in the South Downs.

Kirstie, a life-long Sussex resident, and her husband Richard ‘just love walking’.

She said: “It was probably a few years ago we decided to look at doing something that’s more what we love doing so I said I’ll start this company and took it from there.”

Small businesses can tweet Theo about their business on any Sunday.from 5pm to 7.30 pm, including the hastag #SBS.

For more information on PATA visit http://www.patadventures.com.