FreeHour has been awarded Small Business of the Year (up to 25 employees) at the Malta Business Awards, organised by the Malta Chamber of SMEs in collaboration with Malta Enterprise.

The award celebrates small businesses that have demonstrated strong growth, innovation, employee care, and community impact. FreeHour stood out among the three finalists for its leadership in Malta’s student-utility and social-media content space — an area it has redefined through creativity, authenticity, and a deep connection with young audiences.

“This recognition is a huge milestone for our team,” said Jamie Dent, Chief of Staff & Editor. “It reflects the hard work, creativity, and passion that everyone at FreeHour puts in daily — and the incredible support from our community that drives us forward.”

Founder and CEO Zach Ciappara added: “We’re honoured to be named Malta’s Small Business of the Year. It celebrates how far we’ve come as a young, independent team. It’s proof that passion, creativity, and community can drive real impact — even in a relatively small market like Malta.”

The award reinforces FreeHour’s role as a cultural leader in the Maltese digital landscape, bridging the gap between education, lifestyle, and youth-driven media. With over 38,000 active users across Malta’s sixth forms and universities, the company continues to inform, entertain, and empower Gen Z audiences through its platform and content channels.

FreeHour said it plans to use this achievement to further its credibility, strengthen partnerships, and continue expanding its reach and impact — keeping community and authenticity at its core.