Last night Take It From Mummy attended the much anticipated Leamington Business Awards. I was so unbelievably nervous you couldn’t imagine. I was going to the awards on my own and for someone who can’t usually meet friends at a pub without making someone come outside and meet me, you can imagine the prospect was slightly terrifying! I needent have worried though. I was joined by the wonderful Jo Wong of Soft Touch Baby Massage who was also representing her own small business. Jo and I were seated next to one another and shared our nerves together!
The evening was bursting with local businesses and you could just feel the pride in the air. There’s something quite fantastic that all these people have in common. They have all had a vision and made it work, usually with pure blood, sweat and tears. That coupled with the awful economic times we have faced over the past few years its testament to the hard work and tenacity of the people and families behind these businesses that they have continued to thrive.
Things are looking up. Its 2014, people are spending more money and there is never a better time to be a local business in Leamington Spa. From speaking to people last night it is obvious that through these difficult times, something has changed. Consumers are now looking to support local people and their businesses, not only that but local businesses are supporting each other! I know that social networking has played a huge part in this. Through initiatives like networking meet ups and #leamhour #warwickhour etc our businesses now have a platform and almost a circle of support from like minded people who help to spread the word. Last night’s Leamington Business Awards was a perfect example of social media and it’s incredible power.
Local Mum and photographer Karen Massey dreamt up the idea of the awards and boy did it come into fruition! The evening which was not for profit and supported the Air Ambulance Service was planned down to the smallest detail and it ran like a well oiled machine, from the arrival on the red carpet, to the goodie bags, the table decorations and of course to the awards themselves this was an evening to go down in history! The start of many we hope and we were very proud to have been able to watch it all unfold.
We were seated alongside the Leamington Peace Festival, Award Winners, The Newbold Comyn Arms, Soft Touch Baby Massage and Jeannette and Tegan Pugh from Wild Creature Features. Tegan was a finalist in the Rising Star Award category, and boy did she blow our socks off. We will have to write a whole other blog to tell you all about this inspirational and beautiful 11 year old star. Lets just say Tegan had me in tears for at least 10 minutes. Tegan didn’t win an award this year, she didn’t need to, she will win a billion in the future. Tegan, if you’re reading this, there aren’t enough words to tell you how touched we were by your story last night and your superb attitude is testament to your lovely Mum who just adores you. We wish you all the luck in the world for your fabulous business Wild Creature Features, this is just the beginning.
Take It From Mummy was delighted to have been shortlisted as a finalist in the Small Business Category and we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time to tell the panel your experience of our website and to the judges for shortlisting us. We didn’t leave with an award this time but this is just the beginning for us too, and only 9 months from launch I think we have got off to an amazing start and I feel prouder than ever of our achievements. Our just giving page has raised over £1200 for Warwick Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit and we are hoping to send this figure soaring with our last charity event of the year Our Christmas Party! (Raffle prizes gratefully recieved 😉
And here I am with my bubbly celebrating life 🙂 (Photo by David Morphew)
Here is a list of all the award winners on the night! Well done to you all!
Clickable links on all
Large Business Award – O’Brien Contractors
Small Business Award – The Bike Yard
Business Person Of The Year – Richard Cheetham
Rising Star Award – Tayla O’Sullivan
Best National Business in Leamington Spa – Waterstones
Independent Award – Lockwoods Ski & Outdoors
The Warm Welcome Award – The Moorings at Myton
The Sparkle Award – The Newbold Comyn Arms
The Health and Beauty Award – Blue Owl Therapy
Leamington Legend Award – Angie Archer from Cord
