Branding and Design with Emily Hewett is the latest episode of the Business Awards Show. Emily left Leeds to come south, where she knew nobody, but that did not stop her from setting up her own branding and design business fourteen years ago. She has remained a sole trader, building a solid team of marketing professionals to support her clients as she grows her customer base. Supporting local charities is a key driver, as she offers marketing work pro bono to aid their efforts. This is an entrepreneur who lives her values. Emily tells us about the challenges of balancing work with family; she has two younger children and three adult stepchildren, so she has plenty to juggle! Emily has won local awards and was a silver award winner at this year's Best Businesswomen Awards. Award success has driven her to sponsor awards and become a judge. Her unique perspective from both sides will be insightful for many listeners. This episode will be helpful for small business owners trying to devise a marketing strategy. It is an ideal listen for anyone thinking of entering awards, understanding the nuances between different award programmes, and helping to identify where may be best for you to enter. {1:14} Why Emily started a graphic design business fourteen years ago. {2:06} How she built her business from scratch. {3:12} Emily's branding and design services. {4:37} The common mistakes small businesses make in branding and design. {6:40} Emily's beliefs about good branding. {8:04} Supporting charities. {10:49} Emily's views on entering awards. {14:15} The long term awards strategy. {15:22} The challenges faced in fourteen years of business. {18:10} What drives Emily forward. {19:46} Being an awards judge. {21:38} Differences in awards requirements.   Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk Connect with Emily: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamemilydesign LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graphicdesigneressex/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/iamemilydesign Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamemilydesign

Awakening Women's Lives is our latest episode featuring coach Jane Galloway. The title comes from Jane's flagship programme as she seeks to help and champion women to live their best lives.  Jane worked in the NHS for many years, whilst developing a coaching practice on the side. In 2023 she has taken the leap and her coaching business Quiet the Hive is now her full-time focus. She has a degree in psychology and is fascinated in people generally, igniting a desire to help others from a young age. Many of the decisions and mental processes she has gone through have proved useful material in her coaching of clients. As a single mum with two boys, she has juggled parenting with work, but tells us how she has a better balance now than ever before. In this discussion, Jane, a silver winner in this year's Best Businesswomen Awards, explains why she set up a coaching side-hustle, how it became her full-time role, and how she found that transition.  She has a podcast too, and tells us why that is important to her. She has entered awards from the outset and explains why it has proved such a useful process and why she enjoys it so much. She also discusses her goals for 2024, including a book, and growing her practice. This episode will appeal to anyone thinking of taking their side-hustle further, scared of leaving full-time employment, or thinking of entering awards. It is also a great advertisement for the brilliance of women and why we must embrace our power.   {1:58} Turning a side hustle into a full-time business. {3:33} Where the Quiet the Hive concept came from. {5:20} Jane's coaching programmes. {7:27} Why women don't prioritise themselves. {8:25} Jane's passion for helping others. {10:30} Where did the name 'Quiet the Hive' come from? {11:03} Why Jane started a podcast. {12:52} Podcast details. {13:22} Transitioning from the NHS to being a self-employed coach. {14:30} Managing flexible working in the NHS. {15:30} Managing the business. {16:39} Balancing work with the needs of her two boys. {18:57} Entering awards. {21:18} Avoiding the wrong sort of awards. {22:25} Entering the Best Businesswomen Awards. {26:09} Jane's goals for 2024. {29:25} How far Jane has come in a short time.   Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk Connect with Jane: https://quietthehive.com/ Podcast: https://quietthehive.com/podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quiet_the_hive LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/quiet-the-hive/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/quiet_the_hive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quietthehive

Our latest episode discusses branding for small business with Andrea Boughton, founder of branding design consultant, Beehive Green. Andrea worked in large London agencies before having children, taking a break from work for five years before setting up her own branding design business. Our discussion looks at the origins of her company, and how she got it off the ground. Having worked with small businesses for nearly ten years, she tells us what she has learnt about branding over that time, and what advice she would give others considering a similar career move. Andrea had significant experience in writing awards entries for large agencies, so she tells us how that has informed her approach to entering awards as a small business. As a silver winner at the 2023 Best Business Women Awards, and a finalist at the Hertfordshire Chamber Awards, Andrea is proving why entering can be so beneficial for any solopreneur. She discusses her goals for 2024, much of which involves embracing the rapidly-changing world of technology, including AI and new versions of established design software. This episode is perfect for anyone thinking about branding, entering awards, or even setting up their own business. There is much to learn from Andrea's journey as a branding specialist over the last decade.   {1:37} Why Andrea set up Beehive Green ten years ago {4:15} Getting the business off the ground. {7:05} Andrea's agency experience with awards. {8:15} Understanding the value of business awards. {9:40} Entering the Herts Chamber Awards for the first time. {12:30} Maintaining business progress. {13:26} The challenges of running a business. {15:21} Why working from home is productive for Andrea. {16:13} Andrea's advice for starting a branding and design business. {17:32} Beehive Green's typical clients. {18:22} Where the name Beehive Green came from. {20:58} Investing in your brand. {21:54} Entering more awards. {22:32} The lack of design awards for small businesses. {24:32} Why awards work for solopreneurs. {25:27} Andrea's goals for 2024. {27:12} Becoming an Adobe ambassador.   Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk Connect with Andrea: https://beehivegreen.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beehive_green/ LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-boughton/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/beehivegreen/

In today's interview with Angela Spencer, we learn about Angela's journey from the corporate world to starting her coaching business Virago Wellness. She was Head of Culture in a well known retail business employing over 4000 people. Now she runs her own solopreneur business.  As you will hear, she has absolutely no regrets. Consequently she is thriving in her mission to help empower women through self-discovery to achieve their best selves. She tells us how the pandemic was a game-changer for her and her husband. It led her to quickly grew her coaching practice, although she explains the help she enlisted to get off the ground. Entering awards has been an insightful learning curve. As a result, she is determined to continue to enter awards that meet her criteria for growth and validation. Angela discusses her ambitious plans for the next few years as she seeks to help more women deal with the rigours of modern life. Angela's episode is the perfect listen for any woman feeling like they are not good enough and frazzled with the pressures of life. Those struggling to cope with dramatic changes such as starting a family, seeing older children leave home, or yearning for a change of direction will find this discussion particularly helpful.   {1:20} The origins of Virago Wellness. {6:02} The catalyst for change. {7:30} What is Angela's USP? {9:42} Transitioning from the corporate world to running a business. {12:40} The help Angela enlisted to start the business. {15:23} The benefits of networking. {16:35} Angela's location and online coaching. {17:17} The lessons from entering awards. {19:20} Sharing Angela's awards success. {20:26} Virago's long-term plan. {22:42} The possibility of writing a book. {24:53} Dealing with the return from maternity leave. {27:20} The pressure on women to sacrifice themselves for their families. {27:56} The empowerment that comes from self-discovery. {28:37} More award applications. {29:28} Awards in Liverpool. {30:10} Short-term plans. {30:46} Angela's plans for a day retreat.   Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk Connect with Angela: https://virago-wellness.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ViragoWellnessCoaching/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virago_wellness_coaching LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-spencer-7241b34b/

Our latest episode features an interview with Emma Baylin, the inspirational founder of Shared Harmonies CIC. The charity was set up ten years ago to fulfil Emma's passion for wellbeing with a love of singing to bring about powerful human connections. Emma tells us about her journey over the last ten years, how her charity helps those with dementia and respiratory problems, and the benefits she brings to corporate clients. Her work in the community makes such a difference, never better demonstrated than during the pandemic. Emma explains why being a Silver Winner at the Best Businesswomen Awards in September was so important to her and her team. It will make many seriously consider entering themselves. Her TedX talk, 'Connecting with Harmony' has had nearly 7000 views, challenging people's beliefs that they cannot sing, explaining the huge benefits singing brings. Emma has had plenty of challenges through her first decade, but through it all, she has created a wonderful charity that does vital work for the community and the corporate world in the North West of England. This is an interview that may lead you to seek out your local choir and will undoubtedly challenge your limiting beliefs.     {1:20} Shared Harmonies work and vision. {2:38} The idea behind Shared Harmonies. {4:17} Developing into the corporate space. {6:57} The various ways Shared Harmonies works with corporate organisations. {9:40} Shared Harmonies work in the community. {10:22} The benefits of singing for dementia sufferers. {11:28} The benefits of singing for respiratory problems. {13:26} Why Emma has entered awards. {17:02} The challenges faced over the last ten years. {23:40} Emma's TedX Talk. {27:20} What's next for Shared Harmonies.   Connect with Debbie at The Business Awards Show Connect with Emma at:  https://www.sharedharmonies.co.uk/ Emma's TedX Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnUDu8A3AUg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharedharmonies/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SharedHarmonies LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/company/shared-harmonies-cic/ YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC65-xC7B2d__IVqKKJW1eXQ Twitter/X:  https://twitter.com/SharedHarmonies  

Today's episode features an interview with Steven Lambert, Relationship Manager for business support charity and Best Businesswomen Awards headline sponsor, Be The Business. Be The Business is a significant contributor to business growth in the small business sector, providing mentorship and productivity programmes, research from across the sector, and campaigns for better productivity, tackling information gaps and fixed mindsets. During our discussion, Steven talks about Be The Business, the work they do to support small businesses, and the typical challenges he regularly sees. He explains why he recommended sponsoring the Best Businesswomen Awards and why Gold and Silver winners are so important to the organisation. Other topics include the importance of business plans, why having a business mentor can be so transformational for a business owner, and how Be The Business seeks to support female business owners as much as male ones. This is the perfect episode for anyone looking for business support or who does not know where to turn. Steven shines a light of the small business sector and its importance on both the UK and your local economy. It may well inspire to take another look at your own business and reach out for help that could take you to the next level.   {1:25} What Be The Business does and Steven's role within it. {2:00} Support offered by Be The Business. {3:32} Be The Business Funding {3:50} A look at the BTB mentoring programme. {5:05} Typical business challenges. {7:15} The difference between mentoring and productivity programmes. {8:25} Why Be The Business was set up. {11:35} The benefits of working with The Best Businesswomen Awards. {12:45} The overall strategy behind supporting awards. {15:45} How BTB supports businesswomen. {19:07} Are their common themes in small businesses? {22:15} Confidence and belief - do entrepreneurs have them? {23:26} The importance of business plans. {25:25} The BTB team and its corporate backers. {27:15} Award winners who are mentors {28:15} BTB's plans for 2024.     Connect with Debbie at The Business Awards Show Connect with Steven at https://www.bethebusiness.com/                                        https://www.bethebusiness.com/programmes/find-business-mentor/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethebusiness/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bethebusiness/

Today's episode features an interview with Tessa Day, founder of the largest UK directory for kids activities, Club Hub UK. She also runs the Club Hub Awards for entrepreneurs working in the child activity sector. Tessa's energy and positivity shines through in this discussion, as she covers Club Hub's activities, to the huge amount work behind entering and running awards. She is part of f:Entrepreneur, a leading organisation celebrating the very best female entrepreneurs in the country. The connections she has made from this and by meeting awards finalists has helped her grow her business significantly in recent years. She also tells us about the Club Hub podcast and why she enjoys talking to entrepreneurs in the child activity space so much. For those thinking of entering awards, this is a most useful episode outlining common failings and frustrations, and how judging processes are set up to be as robust as possible. Whether you are thinking of entering awards, or interested in the growth of a talented female entrepreneur this is an episode not to be missed.   {1:45} Tessa's background and the birth of Club Hub UK. {3:32} The scale of the Club Hub website. {4:28} Setting up the Club Hub Awards and Conference. {6:48} What awards bring to Tessa's business. {8:03} The benefits of connecting with other award finalists. {10:08} The Club Hub Awards. {12:30} The Club Hub Awards calendar. {13:23} The frustration with last minute entries. {14:50} The process for entering and managing awards. {20:00} Judges entering awards. {21:00} The challenge of rogue award programmes. {22:29} Tessa's Club Hub Podcast. {23:24} Tessa's advice for entrepreneurs.       Connect with Debbie at The Business Awards Show Connect with Tessa at:  https://clubhubuk.co.uk/ Find out more about the Club Hub Awards here: https://clubhubuk.co.uk/club-hub-event-2024/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clubhubuk/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/clubhubapp/ LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessalrobinson/

Today's episode features an interview with Zeenat Ahmed-Peto, winner of Best Customer Service at the 2023 Best Businesswomen Awards. Given this is one of the most competitive and demanding categories to win, I was delighted to speak to Zeenat about her success. Her approach to customer service in the therapy field makes her stand out. Once your a client of Zeenat's, she's with you for life as you will hear.  Find out how a successful teaching career transitioned into training to become a therapist, determined to help others as she had been helped herself. She is full of excitement about her success in this year's awards, and will explain why entering has been such a positive process and the impact could be so crucial to her business. This is a great episode for anyone who wants ideas about enhancing their customer offering, or who are thinking about entering awards. It is also a fantastic example of an individual who had a well-established career, but decided it was time to do something different. She grabbed the opportunity with both hands and now does a job, running a business she loves.   {1:36} How Zeenat moved from teaching to becoming a hypnotherapist. {3:10} Why clients come to Zeenat. {4:45} It's not just about hypnotherapy {6.12} The challenges of tranisitioning from teacher to businesswoman. {8:20} The importance of connecting with other businesspeople. {9:05} Why Zeenat entered awards. {10:22} Zeenat's approach to customer service. {14:45} The future of Zeenat's business. {16:21} Zeenat's forthcoming book. {17:08} The biggest challenges of being a small business owner in recent years. {19:47} Face-to-face v online consultations. {20:17} The benefit of awards.   Connect with Debbie at The Business Awards Show Connect with Zeenat at https://zeenatahmedpeto.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZeenatCognitiveHypnotherapy/?locale=en_GB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeenathypnotherapy/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeenatahmedpeto/

In today's episode we have an interview with Tracy Fishburn, founder of Tracy's Treasured Keepsakes. She was the winner of a silver award at the recent Best Businesswomen Awards and also won the Best New Business Award at Biz4Biz awards in July.  She runs an amazing business taking clothes that people cannot bear to part with that may once have belonged to a loved one, turning them into beautiful teddy bears, elephants and cushions among other things.  In this episode you can find out how Tracy came to run her own business, even though she never consciously set out to do so. She works with a wonderful charity CHUMS, and tells us why this really matters to her. She has benefited greatly from entering awards and tells us what a vital impact winning awards has had on her business. Tracy makes a real difference to her customers with such a personalised product, so listen to find out how this has developed and what you could learn from her approach. {1:47} Where the idea for Treasured Keepsakes came from. {2:45} Tracy's previous career. {3:02} How the business started. {3:37} The evolution of Treasured Keepsakes. {4:33} How Tracy learnt to sew. {5:23} The range of Treasured Keepsakes. {6:08} Where Tracy's customers come from. {6:55} Tracy's business journey. {7:54} Working with a business coach. {8:28} Why Tracy decided to enter business awards. {9:32} The Biz4Biz entry process and what she learned. {10:01} Presenting to a panel of judges. {11:52} How it felt winning the Biz4Biz award. {13:00} Attending the Best Businesswomen Awards. {14:00} The benefits of entering the Best Businesswomen Awards. {15:28} What's next for Tracy. {16:30} Why Tracy will always work alone. {17:58} Partnering with CHUMS. {18:40} Tracy's business challenges. {19:38} Tracy's advice to people thinking of starting a business.   Connect with Debbie at The Business Awards Show Connect with Tracy at https://www.tracystreasuredkeepsakes.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracystreasuredkeepsakes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracystreasuredkeepsakes/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tracystreasuredkeepsakes

In this interview with Alec Jones, we learn about the various businesses he has created. Those businesses include the Great British Expo, The Thames Valley and South West Awards, The Great British Business Awards, SME Today magazine, and a wonderful charity, Cherishers.   We learn about Alec's younger years, and what has driven him to build his businesses and to form his charity.    Alec explains what contributes to winning award entries, and what is likely to put judges off. You will find out the most important characteristics of award winners, and why winning awards can be so transformative for so many businesses.    He is a huge supporter of SMEs, his Expos and magazine fundamental in developing that sector. Find out how those businesses have grown and how your business could gain exposure from being part of them.   If you are thinking of entering business awards, want to grow your business, or want to learn from an entrepreneur who is passionate about giving back to his community, this podcast is for you.   {1:53} The inspiration behind the Great British Expos. {3:20} Launching Alec's charity , Cherishers {5:00} Cherisher's base and activities. {6:00} The Great British Business Awards - how they started and what they stand for. {7:45} Ensuring judging is fair and objective. {9:00} Why award entries don't make the final shortlist. {10:35} The importance of financials in your award entries. {11:15} Deciding award categories. {13:10} Reviewing potential award winners. {14:15} Why Tracy decided to enter business awards. {15:15} Going to awards with the right mentality. {17:00} Using statistics to validate entrants' success. {18:02} Judges expectation of CSR and giving back to the community. {19:35} Why Alec has started entering awards himself. {20:30} The Thames Valley and South West Awards. {22:58} Launching SME Today magazine. {24:10} What is needed to support SME Today. {24:54} Alec's advice to people thinking of starting a business. {27:15} What's next for Alec.     Connect with Debbie at The Business Awards Show Connect with Alec at http://www.greatbritishbusinessawards.co.uk/                                   https://www.greatbritishexpos.co.uk/                                   https://www.smetoday.co.uk/                                   http://www.cherishers.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GBExpos/?fref=ts LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/alecjoneshall/                 https://www.linkedin.com/company/sme-today/                 https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-great-british-expo/about/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKAlPFf8NZ-17-q4Dj0wOCA                https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGviVL1O3QxCdPMTeQ8Q89Q