The Business Awards Show

Catering for Under-5s is the latest installment of the Business Awards Show.

Kerrie and Maddy founded the multi-award-winning TOTFest six years ago, an all-inclusive festival entirely for under-5s. So successful have the pair been, it has grown to become the largest under-5 festival in the UK.

TOTFest now visits five locations in the UK with plans to further expand in the coming years. The pair explain how they came up with the idea, the challenges of working as a partnership, and their plans for the future.

COVID caused massive disruption in their business, and Kerrie and Maddy tell us how they navigated a hugely challenging eighteen months and what it took to get the business going again.

They have won numerous awards in recent years including a silver in the Best Creative Business category at the 2023 Best Businesswomen Awards. The pair use awards as a key part of their strategy, explaining what their success has done for their business.

This is a great episode for any entrepreneurs working in partnerships, dealing with adversity, and what it takes to put on immersive events. They have a unique customer-base in the under-5 market, so anyone in a similar situation will take great inspiration from their business growth.

{1:18} How the partnership began.

{2:32} What happens at TOTFest.

{3:53} The challenges of working as a partnership.

{6:07} Kerrie's and Maddy's roles in the business.

{7:12} The TOTFest programme for 2024.

{8:30} The TOTFest schedule.

{9:06} Finding the right venues.

{12:23} When awards came on the radar.

{13:26} Their awards successes.

{15:56} Managing through COVID.

{21:33} Recovering from lockdown.

{22:52} Future plans for TOTFest.

{26:32} Franchising as a future business model.

{27:14} Maddy's and Kerrie's business tips.

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

Connect with Kerrie and Maddy: https://www.totfestfestival.com/

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

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

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/totfest-festival/

Building a Music School with Barbara Mohorko-Vuka is another fascinating installment of the Business Awards Show.

Barbara grew up in Slovenia, learning cello from the age of six and gaining an extensive musical education that saw her graduate from Trinity Laban and the Royal College of Music.

Barbara took over the Wimbledon School of Music in 2018 at just 22 years of age. Depsite a global pandemic attempting to disrupt the development of her school, Barbara has grown the school impressively over the last five years. Most instruments are now taught and the school is going from strength to strength.

She tells us about the work of the school, the joy of concerts, how music education is treated differently in Slovenia to the UK and the long term plans for her business.

Having won a silver award at the 2023 Best Businesswomen Awards, she also talks about the impact of winning an award, and her plans to enter more local awards in 2024.

This is a great episode for any young entrepreneur wondering if they are mature enough to run a business. It reveals the life lessons that music teaching can bring and will be useful to many parents who may be wondering how to get their children into music.

{1:51} Taking over a business at 22.

{4:34} The impact on the school of the pandemic.

{6:33} The work of the Wimbledon Music School.

{7:34} Barbara's music education.

{8:35} Difference between music education in Slovenia and the UK.

{10:10} Things to consider when starting a business.

{11:45} Barbara's music qualifications.

{12:37} What excites Barbara about her business.

{13:47} Putting on concerts and festivals.

{14:53} How awards appeared on the radar.

{16:50} Entering other awards.

{17:22} Sharing the win with the students.

{18:48} Barbara's long term plans.

{20:59} Barbara's tips for succeeding in business.

{22:58} Life skills gained when learning music.

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

Connect with Barbara: https://www.wimbledonmusicschool.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wimbledonmusicschool/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-mohorko-vuka-270990110/

The Brand Artisan with Becky Benfield-Humberstone is now available on the Business Awards Show. Becky was a silver award winner in the Best Solopreneur category at the 2023 Best Businesswomen Awards, having grown her branding business, the Brand Artisan. Becky has been a serial entrepreneur, creating her first business, 'Utterly Horses', and growing it to become the largest retailer in its field in Europe. Having sold that business, she spent some time in corporate, working at the Imperial War Museum. That taught her influential lessons as she returned to the small business world. Over the years, she has developed her branding and marketing skills to the point where, three years ago, she set up The Branding Artisan. She is passionate about helping small businesses expand and establish their brands and is going from strength to strength. Becky is also a multi-award-winning entrepreneur; last year's silver award at the BBWA final is just one of many she has collected over her years in business. Not only does she win awards, but she writes entries for clients, too. As if that was not enough, Becky has also published children's books, with more in the pipeline. This episode demonstrates the impact awards have on a business; the crucial part branding plays in business development, and the need to keep learning and creating.

{1:40} The work of The Brand Artisan.

{2:20} Why Becky started the business.

{2:52} Where Becky's business career started.

{5:10} Working at the Imperial War Museum.

{5:50} Developing the idea behind The Branding Artisan.

{7:13} When awards came on the radar.

{8:20} How Becky selects which awards to enter.

{9:29} Selecting the right awards for clients.

{10:08} The challenges developing her business.

{11:09} How leads are generated.

{11:55} Becky's advice for new entrepreneurs.

{14:20} Reviewing clients' branding.

{15:16} Becky's future plans.

{16:00} Writing children's books.

{16:55} Becky's branding tips.

{17:50} Brands that do it well.

{19:20} The advantage small businesses have.

{21:45} How Becky grew Utterly Horses to become a saleable asset.

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

Connect with Becky: https://www.fieldandstone.co.uk/

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

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

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

The Green Florist with Anna Ball is the latest edition of the Business Awards Show. Anna won the Best Green Business Award at the 2023 Best Businesswomen Awards for her green floristry business, Floral Image UK. Anna worked as a primary school teacher before meeting her husband, and the couple decided to buy the UK license for Floral Image, a global business providing artificial flower arrangements for offices and events. Since starting the UK company, Anna has led the development of a network of 24 franchisees and a growing corporate customer list. Demand has snowballed. Anna has coined the motto, 'A door on every floor, ' indicating how word of mouth brings new business. Like many women, Anna has to balance her business needs with her family. In her case, this is even more demanding, given her daughter is disabled. However, she explains her approach and shows that you can create a work/life balance with effort and some clear boundaries. She tells us about the impact of winning the Best Green Business award last year, how it has brought additional PR for her business, and its effect on her team. This episode is ideal for anyone considering purchasing a franchise business or starting one. It will also encourage those thinking of entering business awards to go ahead and do it! And there are some great lessons Anna has learnt that could be applied by many entrepreneurs.

{1:31} Why Anna bought the UK license for Floral Image.

{3:03} How designs are produced for customers.

{4:30} The Floral Image client profile.

{5:08} Why buy a franchise rather than start a new business.

{6:17} The Floral Image UK franchise network.

{7:30} Floral Image's global presence.

{7:55} The importance of the product's green credentials.

{9:00} The wedding market.

{9:40} The challenges running a business with a family.

{11:26} When awards came on the radar.

{13:08} Anna's business lessons.

{15:08} Plans for expansion.

{16:17} Managing the franchisees.

{16:30} Anna's plans for 2024.

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

Connect with Anna: https://gb.floralimage.com/

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

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/floralimage/

Fighting sex trafficking with Ruth Robb is the latest episode of the Business Awards Show.

Ruth founded a fantastic charity, Azalea, fifteen years ago, helping women who have been sex-trafficked. Her work led to a Gold Award at the 2023 Best Businesswomen Awards.

Having worked in social care, Ruth became increasingly aware of the horrors of sex trafficking in her local area around Luton. Being easily accessible from Luton airport and Dunstable logistics hubs, Ruth realised her town was increasingly becoming an accessible location to use for bringing oppressed women into the UK.

She has put massive energy and commitment into setting up and growing the Azalea charity, working closely with the police, border force, home office and other vital institutions to provide crucial support.

She and her team work tirelessly to help support these women, often extracting them from their situation and helping them create new lives.

Ruth does not believe charity is all about money. She is passionate about the role of kindness and giving time and support. It is something she talks of regularly as the founder of the charity. And it has created a wider community that offers resources and time to provide the additional support needed to make those trafficked safer and with opportunities to get out.

This is an inspirational episode highlighting the plight of survivors of sex trafficking, the work the charity undertakes, and her plans for the coming year to continue Azalea's progress.

{1:35} What Azalea does.

{2:35} Why Ruth set up Azalea.

{3:24} How Ruth became aware of sex-trafficking.

{4:10} Why Ruth gave the charity the name 'Azalea'.

{4:50} How Azalea identifies women at risk.

{6:15} Celebrating Azalea's fifteenth annivesary.

{7:02} How many women Azalea helps every year.

{7:48} Ensuring survivors of sex trafficking are not criminalised.

{8:42} Luton's ease of access for Europeans.

{9:10} Local women trafficked to Europe.

{9:35} How social media ensnares women.

{9:54} A typical week at Azalea.

{12:23} Azalea's triumphs over fifteen years.

{14:03} Providing love to women who have never had it.

{15:00} The challenges of running Azalea.

{18:14} How Ruth insulates herself from the harrowing thinigs she sees.

{19:03} Being crowned the 2023 BBWA Charity Champion.

{20:51} Publicising the Azalea purpose.

{21:31} Azalea's plans for 2024.

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

Connect with Ruth: https://www.azalea.org.uk/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-robb-96708646/

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/azalealuton

Scaling Tutor Businesses with Helen Dickman is the latest episode of the Business Awards Show. Helen was a Silver Award Winner in the Best New Business category of the 2023 Best Businesswomen Awards. Helen studied English at university and, almost inevitably, became a teacher and then an educational consultant. In 2018, she became a private tutor, experiencing the ups and downs of being self-employed in the education sector. Having developed a clear understanding of what makes a strong tutoring business, Helen set up her own business, Love Mondays Club, in 2021. She aimed to help busy female business owners create profitable online businesses without having to sacrifice all of their time. Helen has also started the Love Mondays Club podcast to grow her profile, telling us what she covers and why she enjoys this so much. Helen has started entering awards over the last year and has had some success. She discusses the benefits of completing awards entries and how winning has raised the awareness of her business. She continues to develop her training platform while planning to travel around Europe before a potential move to Europe. This episode is perfect for anyone in the early stages of establishing their business. It is a must-listen for any tutor or trainer wanting to grow their client list.

{2:35} Why Helen started Love Mondays Club.

{5:28} Where Love Mondays Club came from.

{8:06} Creating a work/life balance.

{9:03} What LMC provides for tutors and trainers.

{11:56} Why Helen began entering business awards.

{13:39} Why entering awards is such a learning process.

{15:18} The challenges of starting LMC.

{17:28} The inspiration for the podcast.

{19:17} The guests and topics included in the podcast.

{21:00} Marketing Love Mondays Club.

{22:37} Helen's advice for new entrepreneurs.

{25:47} Helen and business networking.

{28:02} The future for LMC.

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

Connect with Helen: https://www.lovemondaysclub.co.uk/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-dickman/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovemondaysclub

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/lovemondaysclub/

Podcast: https://lovemondaysclub.podbean.com/

Going Green with Danielle Seatter is the latest episode of the Business Awards Show. Danielle was a Silver Award Winner in the Best Green Business category of the 2023 Best Businesswomen Awards. Danielle was an early learning teacher, but having left the sector, she decided to start an eco-business, Eco-Able, in 2019. In 2022, she opened her shop in Cirencester, selling a multitude of eco-friendly products, and hasn't looked back. She tells us why she started a green business and how the product range has been diversified to meet her customers' needs. She has published two children's books with an eco-slant and intends to produce more in the coming years. The merchandise from those books also finds its way into the Eco-Able store. Danielle has practical advice for all business owners to help make their businesses more sustainable. She believes in making small, incremental changes, suggesting that everyone reviews their business closely and looks for manageable and sustainable change that can be built on over time. Having won several awards in recent years, Danielle discusses how this has helped her business and why she entered the Best Businesswomen Awards last year. As climate change becomes ever more present in our lives, this episode is a perfect way to start thinking about your business and how you can help create a more sustainable planet.

{1:25} The work of Eco-Able.

{2:42} Danielle's drive to set up a green business.

{4:24} How Danielle stocks her shop.

{5:58} How awards came on the radar.

{7:15} Winning multiple BizBubble awards.

{8:20} Why Danielle entered the Best Businesswomen Awards.

{9:25} How businesses can begin reducing carbon footprint.

{11:43} Danielle's best-selling products.

{13:03} Danielle as a children's author.

{15:10} Eco-friendly merchandising from her books.

{15:51} Ideas for future projects.

{16:33} Danielle's challenges in setting up Eco-Able.

{17:44} The Cirencester business community.

{19:08} The benefits of a physical shop.

{20:44} The shop's location.

{21:03} The future for Eco-Able.

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

Connect with Danielle: https://eco-able.co.uk/

LinkedIN: linkedin.com/in/danielle-seatter-ec0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eco_able/?hl=en

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

X: https://twitter.com/AbleEco

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/EcoAbleLtd/

Building loyalty in the hospitality industry is our latest episode of the Business Awards Show. Ashleigh was voted Best Businesswoman in Marketing and PR at the 2023 Best Businesswomen Awards. She explains why she and her husband set up their business Halo Business Consulting offering businesses in the hospitality sector the benefit of their twenty years' of experience in marketing, PR, and customer experience in the industry.

Ashleigh explains why the pandemic was such a pivotal moment in hospitality, and how it affected her and her customers. The changes that have emerged have had a huge impact on customer behaviour and the way hospitality businesses interact with their customer base.

She has added awards as an essential strategy in her business. Winning the Gold Award in the BBWA last year has already reaped dividends as Ashleigh explains.

If you have a hospitality business, or indeed any business where building customer loyalty and delivering a great experience is vital, this episode will be of real help. Ashleigh's tips on building loyalty, getting more reviews, and improving delivery at each customer touch-point will help every customer-facing company raise their game.

{1:28} The work of Halo Business Consulting.

{2:53} The challenges and success of the pandemic.

{5:40} Ashleigh's core customer base.

{6:57} Where the name Halo originated from.

{8:50} The changes in the hospitality sector post-Covid.

{10:15} Delivering customer experience in the industry.

{11:36} Bringing together all elements of customer loyalty to build loyalty.

{13:40} Why awards are important to Halo.

{15:10} Collaborating with fellow finalists.

{15:58} Discovering the Best Businesswomen Awards.

{18:20} Ashleigh's experience at the final.

{19:25} Winning brings positive PR.

{20:37} Tips to build customer loyalty.

{23:10} How to get more from reviews.

{25:45} What's next for Halo.

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

Connect with Ashleigh: https://www.gohalo.co.uk/

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

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

The Joy of Music for Children is the latest release from The Business Awards Show. It features an interview with Cat Bateman, silver award winner at the 2023 Best Businesswomen Awards, and founder of Little Folk Nursery Rhymes Ltd. Sophie had a passion for music from a young age, so setting up a business twelve years ago bringing mothers and their toddlers together to sing nursery rhymes, seemed like a natural thing to do.

She has built a substantial local community, and many of the the young children she taught in the early years, are now learning musical instruments themselves.

Cat has great tips for small business owners, and shares her drive to ensure other entrepreneurs are supported to grow their businesses.

She has been successful in several major award programmes. Cat tells us why she started entering and what it's done for her business. Cat had a wonderful experience at this year's Best Businesswomen Awards final, telling us why it meant so much to her and what she has got from it.

Like so many small business owners, she was deeply impacted by the pandemic, The cost of living crisis is not making things any easier. Nevertheless, she tells a story of great resilience and adaptability that has seen her thrive in adversity.

This episode is a Christmas gift from the Business Awards Show. Cat is so full of positivity, and gives so much to children, we thought she was the ideal person to have on the podcast for our Christmas episode.

{1:24} Cat's path to starting a business.

{7:04} The children in Cat's group

{8:20} Teaching traditional nursery rhymes to children.

{11:04} What made Cat enter business awards.

{13:25} Applying for the Small Awards.

{16:49} Losing essential equipment.

{19:45} Cat's business challenges.

{21:25} The pandemic changes everything.

{25:33} Getting things back to normal.

{26:33} The cost of living crisis.

{28:00} Pivoting to deal with crises.

{29:42} Expanding the business in the future.

{30:47} Overcoming impostor syndrome.

{31:24} Cat's tips for small business owners.

{37:17} Managing stress as a business owner.

{38:54} The Best Businesswomen Awards Final.

{40:05} The downsides of some other awards programmes.

{40:51} The importance of a panel of objective, expert judges.

{42:02} The power of networking at the awards final.

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

Connect with Cat: http://littlefolknurseryrhymes.com/

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

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

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/littlefolksing

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/littlefolknurseryrhymes

A New Kind of VA with Sophie Ryan is our latest episode of the Business Awards Show. Sophie was a silver award winner at this year's Best Businesswomen Awards in the Best New Business category. In this interview, she tells us about setting up her business, Interactive VA, which aims to deliver a more holistic approach to customers. She explains why she created a VA company offering business and physical and mental well-being support. She has a varied client portfolio with a broad range of needs and describes how she fulfils them. Marketing is a vital element of her offering, and she expands on how that is incorporated into her portfolio of services. Sophie also runs other companies, including a property business with her husband. As if that is not enough, she has two children, so it is interesting to hear her views on balancing life's pressures and asking for help.

Sophie is another entrepreneur who has realised the benefits of winning and entering awards. She explains why she has become increasingly involved, and her process for entering.

This episode will be informative for any entrepreneur struggling to balance their business needs with everyday life. It also demonstrates that business awards can have a material impact on a new business, helping raise profile and reinforce credibility rapidly.

{1:33} Sophie's business profile.

{2:53} How Sophie conceived the idea behind Interactive VA.

{4:02} When Sophie started the business.

{4:15} What motivated Sophie to enter business awards.

{4:53} The joy of winning awards.

{5:34} Growing the VA business.

{6:22} Interactive VA's typical client work.

{7:15} Incoporating marketing with the portfolio of services.

{7:49} The source of new business.

{8:19} The importance of networking with other awards finalists.

{9:05} Leveraging awards collateral.

{9:39} Including awards in marketing strategy.

{10:08} How entering awards helps you focus on your business.

{10:35} The interactive VA wellness strategy.

{12:16} Managing stress as a business owner.

{13:27} Sophie's latest business launch, and working with her husband.

{14:22} Balancing the needs of children and business.

{16:46} The work that helps Sophie's clients.

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

Connect with Sophie:https://www.interactiveva.co.uk/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-ryan-30236b185/

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