As founder of three prestigious Award Ceremonies in Kent I have a privileged view of business across this thriving county. From those starting out to those who are established or people who are climbing the career ladder. As a member of The Institute of Directors, (IOD) the Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses, (FSB) I have invaluable support at my fingertips to help grow my own business. This kind of support is priceless but it isn’t just the benefits that each organisation offer to members, it’s the opportunities to meet other people in business who are in, or have been in a similar situation to me and learn from them. There is a real sense of a collaborative culture in Kent that I am extremely proud to be a part of. Businesses are forming strategic partnerships that are helping them both grow and reach a level of success that otherwise would not happen. The power of combined ventures is motivation for me to encourage further growth through this method.
When the entry forms come in for the Kent Women in Business Awards, the Kent Independent Traders Awards and the Kent Health and Beauty Awards I see the commitment that motivates people to become more successful and I can learn a lot from them. It seems to me that successful people have similar traits and that they are prepared to go that one step further to make things happen. They don’t moan in the face of a challenge, they face it head on and look for a way to make their goals happen. Perhaps it’s the way they look at a challenge, or perhaps it’s their self-belief that pushes them forward, either way, it is admirable to see so many people not simply settling for mediocre results.
As we now head in to the award season of 2015 I aim to pay particular attention to what it is that makes some businesses stand out from the crowd. I have already seen that for the Kent Women in Business Awards that entries have come in from all over the county, stretching further afield than previous years. This shows that the benefits to winning an award are now seen as an invaluable business tool. I believe it truly is. To be recognised publicly for business achievements shows potential clients that you are not only professional, but also that you are prepared to stand up and be counted. I would like to wish EVERYONE who is nominated for an award in 2015 the very best of luck and I look forward to meeting many winners over the coming months.
