The Business Awards Show

Erin Thomas Wong started out in TV production and grew up in a world full of award ceremonies. She considers how business awards compare, and how to spot the ones worth entering.

Erin, founder of A Life-Friendly Business, discusses moving from television production into eighteen years of running businesses around family life. She shares how her confidence dipped when she left a respected career, and how she built a community of mums and women in business before taking her work online.

She explains the signs that a business is taking over your life, and offers tips including her three jars of beads and snow globe brain ideas. And don't forget her weekly CEO time.

Erin also reflects on awards, from being named in the 2024 list of F:Entrepreneur Female Founders, to being named a finalist in this year's Best Coach category in the Best Businesswomen Awards. She reflects on why trust matters when some awards feel less than genuine, and closes with her exciting plans for next year.

About Erin

Erin is The Life-Friendly Business Mentor, author of How to Build a Life-Friendly Business, and a leading voice for life-friendly entrepreneurship in the UK. With eighteen years of building and growing multiple businesses through motherhood, relocation and reinvention, she helps women lead and grow their businesses with confidence. Through her Cocoon membership, The Life-Friendly Business Podcast, events and 1:1 mentoring, Erin provides strategic guidance, a proven framework and a deeply supportive community that enables women to create success on their own terms, without burning out.

{1:52} How Erin went from TV production to running her own business.

{3:28} The franchise Erin first invested in.

{4:42} The confidence dip Erin experienced running her own business.

{6:00} Starting two more businesses.

{7:43} Moving from Abu Dhabi to Bournemouth.

{9:20} The signs that your business is taking over your life.

{12:30} What you can do to get back into balance.

{16:52} When Erin first considered business awards.

{18:27} The good and bad of business awards.

{20:41} Erin's coaching work.

{23:37} The Life-Friendly Business Podcast.

{26:09} Future plans.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/

Connect with Erin: http://www.lifefriendlybusiness.com/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinthomaswong/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-friendly-business/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lifefriendlybiz

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lifefriendlybiz

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifefriendlybusiness

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lifefriendlybiz/

The Life-Friendly Business Podcast: https://www.lifefriendlybusiness.com/podcasts/life-friendly-business-podcast

Erin's Book - How To Build A Life Friendly Business: https://amzn.eu/d/03gSRC6K

Yolande De Vries has won awards and knows the photography world well, yet she still has mixed feelings about its biggest competitions. Our latest episode reveals why.

Debbie Gilbert talks to Yolande, an award winning personal brand photographer, about a career that began with a camera in Namibia. She shares how she retrained after the 2008 recession closed the door on photojournalism, moved from weddings into branding photography, and became one of the first in her field.

She explains how she helps clients create a natural image, from detailed preparation and longer shoots to outfit planning and unique locations. Yolande also gives her honest view on photography competitions, including how the same names keep appearing on shortlists and why entry terms can hand over your copyright.

She finishes with tips for new photographers, the rise of AI planned shoots, and the one piece of advice she wishes she had been given.

About Yolande

Yolande De Vries is an award-winning personal brand and power portrait photographer behind the images of founders who aren't just seen, they are remembered.

With 17 professional years behind the camera Yolande is one of the first personal brand photographers in the industry (since 2016), known for an editorial edge that makes founders look powerful, strong, and intelligent.

In the last 10 years she has transformed the presence and personal brand of over 400 coaches, entrepreneurs, C-suite executives and medical clinicians.

Yolande believes that every single person is photogenic, and everyone deserves a photograph of themselves that they love and am proud to put out there.

Her magazine-quality work has seen clients featured in Harper's Bazaar, Forbes, Condé Nast and Brand You Magazine. She is a 2023 F:Entrepreneur Top 100 Female Entrepreneur and the 2024 Silver Winner at the Best Business Woman Awards for Best Creative Business.

{1:42} Yolande's journey to a career in photography.

{6:35} Moving into high end weddings.

{8:03} Maximising the opportunity of branding photography.

{8:46} Capturing a subject's personality and how Yolande's shoots work.

{14:24} Industry awards in photography.

{16:04} Yolande's favourite elements of photography.

{17:01} Advice for young photographers.

{17:56} The importance of client contracts.

{18:53} Why clients need to be at their best for a shoot.

{20:37} Yolande's future plans.

{21:50} AI-planned shoots and workign with stylists and make-up artists.

{24:21} How often people should have their images redone.

{25:10} One piece of advice Yolande wished she had been given at the start.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/

Connect with Yolande: https://www.yolandedevries.photography/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yolande-de-vries-photography/home/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolandedevries/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yolandedevries.photography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YolandeDeVries.PersonalBrandingPhotography

Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/yolandedevries_/

Kitty Lai has won awards, been a finalist and sat on a judging panel. She tells us what each side taught her about business and her personal brand.

Kitty, an award-winning branding and packaging designer and founder of Me Brand, talks about her journey from senior roles at Ted Baker and Cath Kidston to running her own branding and packaging design business. Kitty shares how redundancy led her to starting an Amazon FBA business, which then led to a love of branding. From there, she grew her own brand, overcoming a fear of public speaking to talk on stage to hundreds in the US.

She explains how she moved into awards in the last two years, from winning at the Surrey SME Awards to becoming a finalist in two Women in Packaging Excellence categories. Kitty also describes judging for Design Rush, what makes packaging stand out, and why it should. We also review why AI makes designs that look the same.

Finally, Kitty provides an honest view that awards results are still early in her business journey, and have not yet had the impact she expects in future.

About Kitty

Kitty Lai is a visual design expert, brand strategist, and the founder of ME BRAND.

With a career spanning over 28 years at leading British brands like Ted Baker and Cath Kidston, she honed her skills in creating distinctive brand identities and packaging designs that speak directly to audiences. Her passion lies in collaborating with businesses to transform ideas into tangible, visually compelling products. Every design she creates is driven by a mission to help brands connect, resonate, and thrive in competitive markets.

{1:43} Moving from a career with Ted Baker and Cath Kidston to starting her own business.

{4:10} Moving into personal branding while building her own.

{6:32} Overcoming her fear of public speaking.

{7:45} The women's packaging awards that Kitty first engaged with.

{8:58} The robust entry procedure.

{10:33} Becoming a judge for the Design Rush Awards.

{13:00} The importance of packaging in the success of a product.

{15:49} Kitty's advice to those looking to evolve their Branding and packaging.

{17:08} The impact on Kitty's business of being involved in awards.

{17:58} Future plans.

{19:07} How AI is affecting branding and packaging.

{21:11} Opportunities for further awards, podcasts and speaking bookings.

{22:28} One key tip for listeners.

{23:40} Sharing your corporate background when starting a new business.

{24:30} What Kitty misses about corporate life and managing her work/life balance.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/

Connect with Kitty: https://www.mebranddesign.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/me-brand-design-packaging/home/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mebranddesign/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mebranddesigns

Kayleigh Clover helped her clients win awards for years before she dared enter one herself. She tells the Business Awards Show what finally convinced her to have a go.

Kayleigh, founder of Little White House Marketing, built an agency from her kitchen table during lockdown, developing it into a growing team based in Bournemouth. She specialises in human first marketing, explaining why it beats AI generated content in a world craving engagement. Furthermore, she offers social media tips for our finalists heading into an awards night, looking to raise their profiles and connections.

She also opens up about why it took six years to enter an award herself, despite writing entries for clients. Imposter syndrome played a part. But happily, Kayleigh achieved a surprise double win at the Christchurch Business Awards, including an unexpected Rising Star nomination. The genuine PR, SEO and new leads that followed were a huge bonus.

About Kayleigh

Kayleigh Clover is the founder and Managing Director of Little White House Marketing, a social-first creative agency in Southbourne, Bournemouth. She started the business from home during COVID after a decade in the travel industry. Consequently, it has grown entirely through word of mouth into a limited company with a wide range of clients across the UK and further afield. The agency covers all elements of creative marketing, from organic social and paid media, to photography and video shoots.

Kayleigh believes social media works best when it sounds like a real person and looks like the real business. She has spoken openly against AI-generated content and would rather a client posted less and meant it.

In 2026, Little White House won Best Independent Business at the Christchurch Business Awards, where Kayleigh also took home the Rising Star Award. She's now a finalist in the national Best Businesswomen Awards, in the Marketing and PR category.

She's a vocal supporter of other business owners, particularly women building companies of their own. Outside work, Kayleigh is a mum and is married to Sam, her biggest supporter.

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{2:04} How Covid resulted in Kayleigh starting her own business.

{4:45} When Kayleigh realised she could no longer do it on her own.

{5:11} Growing the team.

{6:55} What human first marketing means and why it matters to Kayleigh.

{9:24} How to engage authentically on social media.

{10:28} Kayleigh's favourite social platform.

{11:55} Why you should step out of your comfort zone on social media.

{13:12} Maximising exposure at awards events.

{15:00} Why it took 6 years to enter business awards.

{16:13} Winning two Christchurch Business Awards.

{20:30} Combining family and business.

{21:12} Future plans.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/

Connect with Kayleigh: https://www.littlewhitehousemarketing.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/littlewhitehouse/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleigh-clover-57293419a/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlewhitehousemarketing/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlewhitehousemarketing/

Saira Mashru read her finalist email again and again, convinced it had to be spam. It was not, and it changed how she saw her business. It's inspiration for any aspiring young entrepreneur, as the women's nutrition coach reflects on winning Silver for Best Young Entrepreneur at the Best SME Awards allied to a Shining Star award. Both have boosted her confidence, credibility and client trust.

Saira, founder of Saira Nutrition, discusses building a nutrition business as a young entrepreneur. She explains how a healthy relationship with food growing up, combined with a background in dietetics and public health, led her to support women through sustainable, guilt free weight loss.

Saira also discusses the leap from part time side project to full time business. Illuminatingly, she shares the challenges of being taken seriously as a young business owner, including negative comments about her age and appearance. Finally, she explains how coaching on confidence and presence helped her overcome this.

About Saira

Saira Mashru is a multi-award winning Registered Nutritionist and founder of Saira Nutrition. By combining evidence-based nutrition with psychology-led behaviour change, Saira helps women lose weight sustainably without diets, restriction or guilt. Her clients experience transformations that go far beyond the scales, ranging from sleeping properly for the first time in years to having the energy to run around with their grandchildren. She works with clients across 1:1, group and corporate settings and has delivered workplace wellbeing sessions for organisations including British Airways and David Lloyd.

{2:32} Why Saira became a nutritionist.

{4:13} Saira's path from school.

{6:23} What convinced Saira to start her business.

{9:02} Who inspired her when she started her business.

{10:41} School's failure to prepare young people for starting a business.

{11:34} The challenges for young entrepreneurs starting out.

{16:13} Deciding to work in her business full time, and the progress she's made since.

{18:09} Saira's range of services.

{21:30} Being a finalist at the Best SME Awards.

{22:55} The feeling of validation being a finalist engendered.

{24:45} The PR winning awards has created.

{25:49} How Awards have brought in new business.

{26:41} Saira's advice for young entrepreneurs.

{27:21} Future plans.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/

Connect with Saira: http://sairanutrition.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saira-nutrition/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/saira-mashru-31a2b11b0/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sairanutrition

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556979441081&rdid=69kOotgnwrhUrx92&share_url=https%3A%2F%2F

Hayley Plumb entered her first ever award full of excitement. What followed was a night she will never forget, for all the wrong reasons. Debbie Gilbert talks to Preston nail technician Hayley, founder of Nailed It by Hayley, about her first ever experience entering business awards.

Hayley shares how she built her nail technician business from scratch after losing her job while pregnant, building a studio in her garage.

After two and a half years her competitive streak led her to enter a major industry awards ceremony. She describes a lengthy, repetitive application process that led to her being told she was a finalist while entries were still open. Next came a chaotic awards night involving long queues, no food, mismatched presentations, and winners left stranded far from the stage.

Debbie shares a similarly disappointing experience of her own, and the two discuss what credible, well run awards should look like, and why poor experiences risk damaging trust in the awards industry as a whole.

{2:20} How Hayley came to set up her nail business.

{5:35} Why she entered the Health & Beauty Awards.

{6:23} A convoluted entry process that did not allow her to showcase her work.

{9:30} The questionable next stage of the process.

{10:45} Buying tickets for the final.

{13:10} The queue for photos.

{15:23} The awards begin.

{20:00} Categories with fifty finalists.

{20:32} Hayley's feelings about awards after her first experience and what happened with her category.

{22:08} Debbie's bad awards experience in June.

{25:22} Hayley's lasting feelings.

{29:37} How those awards could have been run differently.

{35:40} Judging using AI.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/

Connect with Hayley:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Nailed-it-by-Hayley-61557313196357/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenailedit_byhayley/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@naileditby.hayley

Rosie di Lecce has worked with global brands and budgets to match. However, what genuinely excites her is watching a small business win its first award. Rosie, founder of the award winning agency Saia Creative and sponsor of the Best New Business category at this year's Best Business Women Awards, tells us why.

Rosie shares the mindset shift that led her to start her own agency, and the three mistakes she sees businesses make time and again. We talk about trust in the marketing industry and Rosie gives her thoughts on why it is being eroded. In a fascinating conversation, Rosie argues why events and offline touchpoints are quietly outperforming social media, and highlights the risks of leaning too heavily on AI for strategy and content.

To wrap up, Rosie also explains why she chose to sponsor small businesses specifically, and shares her advice for planning ahead for next year.

About Rosie

Rosie Di Lecce is a Fractional Marketing Director, Marketing Strategist and founder of Saia Creative, an award-winning boutique marketing and branding agency helping SMEs turn scattered marketing into focused, strategy-led activity that drives growth.

With 15 years of experience, Rosie has supported hundreds of clients internationally, from start-ups and SMEs to global brands including Swarovski, Heineken and Kawasaki. Her expertise spans marketing strategy, high-converting copy, campaigns, launches and funnels, combining senior-level strategic thinking with hands-on implementation.

Rosie believes effective marketing starts with understanding the business, its audience and its goals. She is also a strong advocate for positive marketing and ethical copywriting, rejecting manipulative tactics in favour of clear messaging and genuine audience connection.

{1:30} Why Rosie started her own business 10 years ago.

{2:46} How a new business attracts clients.

{4:32} The common mistakes made by new businesses.

{10:24} The bad advice we see in the marketing world.

{15:34} The channels delivering most leads.

{18:49} Marketing approaches that stand out.

{21:33} Using AI wisely in marketing.

{27:35} Where AI will help your business.

{30:06} Why Rosie sponsored the Best New Business category at this year's Best Businesswomen Awards.

{32:27} What's next for Rosie and her advice to businesses everywhere.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/

Connect with Rosie: http://www.saiacreative.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saiacreative/home/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saia.creative

Winning the award is easy compared to what happens next. Keely Armitt explains why so few businesses actually cash in on their win, and how to be one that does.

Keely is founder of Keely Armitt Business Management, and discusses her journey from a career in sports management into becoming an accredited online business manager.

In this episode, Keely explains the common operational problems that hold growing businesses back. From there, she helps overwhelmed founders regain control through a structured three month plan, and explains why AI genuinely earns its place in day to day operations.

Drawing on her background writing multi-million-pound funding bids, Keely shares why she now writes award entries for clients and has created a framework, CAMM (Celebrate, Amplify, Monetise and Multiply), to help businesses make the most of a win. She explains why so few businesses leverage their award success, and the real commercial opportunities they leave on the table.

About Keely

Keely Armitt is a business strategist, Online Business Manager and awards specialist who helps ambitious business owners build stronger, more scalable and visible businesses. Following a 20-year career spanning operations, marketing, major projects and senior leadership, Keely launched her own consultancy to help entrepreneurs create the strategy, systems and structure they need to grow without becoming the bottleneck in their business. She also specialises in business awards, helping companies identify the right opportunities, create compelling, evidence-led submissions and maximise the commercial value of winning. She is creator of the Award Winner's Playbook, designed to help businesses turn award recognition into lasting brand and business growth.

{2:15} Keely's background that led to running her own business.

{5:00} Keely's competitive nature and her roles in sports management.

{6:58} The common challenges faced by growing businesses.

{10:13} Supporting clients in a state of overwhelm.

{12:53} How Keely uses AI.

{15:12} Prioritising key tasks for businesses.

{18:25} What Keely brings to award entry writing.

{21:04} Leveraging an awards plan.

{29:05} Keely's future plans.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/

Connect with Keely: https://keelyarmitt.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keely-armitt/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ka-businessmanagement/home/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keelyarmittbusinessmanagement/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeelyArmittBusinessManagement/

Helen Kenworthy has spent thirty years telling people of course you can. She explains why she finally started believing it about her own award entries too.

Helen, founder of Of Course You Can Coach, Education Selection Box, RYTC Creative CIC and co-founder of Give Get Go Education, reflects on thirty years of building organically connected businesses rooted in confidence, creativity and inclusion.

Helen shares how her own journey from a shy child into performing arts shaped her belief that everyone can succeed once they experience one small win. Furthermore, she explains how that philosophy underpins her coaching and work supporting young people with additional needs.

Crucially, she discusses how a Youth Arts Champion award, nominated by one of her own students, became a genuine turning point for her business. Helen also reveals why awards continue to build trust, opening doors with funders, offering welcome validation after decades of entrepreneurship.

About Helen

Helen is the founder and director of three organisations — RYTC Creatives CIC, Education Selection Box CIC, and Give Get Go Education. Her conviction is that people don't need to be squeezed into systems that were never designed for them; the systems need to bend around them. With nearly 30 years across the business and creative sectors as a coach, mentor, author, and actor, Helen has spent her career proving that creativity, rigour, and heart aren't mutually exclusive.

Her work spans SEND-informed and alternative education, creative arts for mental health, careers training, and family support — underpinned by her trademarked "Of Course You Can!™" methodology and her "Brilliantly Underestimated" philosophy. In 2026 alone, she picked up the Prestige Awards SEND Provider of the Year and the SME Awards Best Inclusive Creative Learning Partnership of the Year (Warwickshire), adding to a track record that includes the Golden Peacock Trailblazer Award.

{2:20} What Helen was doing thirty years ago.

{5:45} Moving into the SEND sector.

{8:04} Education Selection Box is born.

{10:59} The interconnectedness of Helen's work.

{11:59} Helen's focus on solutions.

{13:48} The 'Brilliantly Underestimated' and how to get them to believe in themselves.

{19:46} How awards benefitted Helen and her business.

{28:30} How Helen has succeeded over thirty years.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/

Connect with Helen: https://helenkenworthy.com/

https://www.educationselectionbox.com/

https://www.rytc.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ofcourseyoucancoach/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/education-selection-box/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/therytc/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofcourseyoucancoach

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581154236404&rdid=iVK8A4ogy3Up0Nht&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1ALBuLBuir%2F

Behind every credible award entry and engaging acceptance speech is someone who has learned how to communicate with impact. In this episode, Helen von Dadelszen shows us how.

Helen is founder of Present Potential and author of 'Courageous Action', the ideal book for helping people communicate more confidently. She tells Debbie why nerves are normal, sharing practical tips on reading the brief carefully, respecting time limits, and bringing genuine personality rather than a rehearsed script.

Additionally, she discusses the growing use of video entries, how to make a pitch memorable within a strict time limit, and the breathing and grounding techniques that help manage nerves. Helen and Debbie also compare approaches to acceptance speeches, and why fear of public speaking should never stop someone entering an award. Her tips could be the catalyst for entering your business into awards. Don't miss it!

About Helen

Helen von Dadelszen helps smart, thoughtful professionals turn their ideas into clear, confident and impactful communication. She believes confidence is built through action, and that everyone has a unique communication style that can be strengthened and shared. As founder of Present Potential Sàrl, Helen provides practical training and coaching in public speaking, presentation skills, vocal presence and confident communication, working across technical, scientific, academic and humanitarian fields.

She is also the author of 'Courageous Action: Your Playbook for Communicating Confidently One Step at a Time', a hands-on guide to building communication confidence. Her work is strongly influenced by improvisational theatre, helping clients become more present and comfortable with uncertainty. An active Toastmasters member and European speech contest winner, Helen is originally from New Zealand. Now based in Switzerland, she brings an international, human-centred approach to communication coaching.

{2:08} Helen's background and her journey to Present Potential.

{4:08} Helen's typical clients.

{6:02} How to prepare for an awards presentation.

{12:08} The importance of planning your pitch.

{14:51} Helen's book 'Courageous Action'.

{17:30} How to give a good acceptance speech.

{24:23} Connecting with an audience.

{26:49} Helen's future plans.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/

Connect with Helen: https://academy.presentpotential.ch/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-von-dadelszen/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/present-potential/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/present_potential

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB_2NMosqJQBBiv5ux3mYHg

Helen's book 'Courageous Action': https://courageousaction.ch/