Bromley-based sustainable footwear business Dubs wins £4k grant from technology leader Sage

A Bromley-based sustainable footwear business has won £4,000 worth of funding to help grow their business thanks to Sage, Official Accounting Software Partner of cricket’s The Hundred.

This award comes after Dubs owner Stuart Davis entered the Sage Small Business XI competition, launched by England cricket legends Stuart Broad and Nat Sciver-Brunt earlier this summer, to celebrate small business owners across the country.

In winning, Dubs joins ten other businesses who have formed the Sage Small Business XI and have won a share of £50,000 in grants and other experiences linked to The Hundred.

Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs), launched the competition as part of its partnership with The Hundred, receiving thousands of entries from small businesses sharing their stories, vision, and future ambitions.

Dubs is reinventing children’s footwear with trainers that fit better, last longer, and can be resold when outgrown — cutting waste and costs for families. Their sustainable design supports local communities, reduces landfill, and keeps kids comfortable and confident on every step of their journey.

The £4,000 grant will help the business scale and reach more families by investing in stock, marketing and production of best-selling styles.

Stuart Davis, Founder of Dubs said: “It’s wonderful to be part of Sage’s Small Business XI 2025 team. This recognition is a powerful endorsement of the work we’re doing and the real-world problem we’re solving. As a small brand with a fresh approach, it helps open doors, build momentum and helps us move our business forward. It’s also a proud moment for my daughter, who inspired the whole thing. We’re just getting started, but this feels like a serious step forward.”

In addition to supporting the growth of Dubs, Stuart alongside ten other national winners, will see their businesses promoted on the pitch side advertising boards at one game in The Hundred, and also gain access to Sage’s innovative technology, insights, and expertise, helping alleviate the pressures they face as small business owners.

Sally Moore, Senior Director of Global Sponsorship at Sage added: “We are delighted to announce Dubs as one of our eleven winners in this year’s Sage Small Business XI. At Sage we’re always looking for ways to champion small businesses and how important they are within their local communities. We’re driven by their passion so we’re thrilled to showcase the outstanding work that Dubs does.”

Stuart Broad, Sage ambassador added: “It’s wonderful to be a part of the Sage Small Business XI again this year alongside the England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. The determination and resilience these founders demonstrate to make their small businesses successful is incredible. As a small business owner myself, I find hearing the winners’ stories and learning from their experiences incredibly valuable, so I’m really looking forward to meeting them at The Hundred Final in August.”

Small businesses also have another chance to win with Sage this summer. Visit www.sage.com/behindthebadge to either nominate a small business or to enter your own small business for the chance to win marketing promotion with an EFL football club, plus chances to win tickets to an EFL regular season game.

The Hundred Final will be held at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Sunday, August 31