The latest Business Awards Show is a wide-ranging conversation with a panel of judges and sponsors.

The Best Businesswomen Awards prides itself on its scrupulous judging, fairness and integrity. Judge Denise O'Leary of Purpol Marketing and author of the bestselling Winner: How to Win Business Awards, explains why the process is so robust and thoroughly objective.

One of our sponsors is Fiona Scott, founder of Scott Media, a leading PR consultant. Fiona explains why being selective about the awards you enter is essential. She also emphasises the need to attend award events when you are shortlisted.

Diane Watson is our final sponsor and judge on the panel, a financial adviser who has helped thousands of women plan for a more secure future. She is the author of the brilliant She Can Prosper: Unlocking Financial Independence and Empowering Women to Thrive. Diane tells us what awards have meant for her business, how her profile has grown and why the Best Businesswomen Awards stand out from the crowd.

We talk about the kind of awards that may be considered dubious, but also give a shout-out to some we support wholeheartedly. Our guests talk about taking time and putting in the effort to complete the best possible entry. And, as we continually emphasise, evidence is vital if you want to be an award finalist, let alone a winner.

Listen now to ensure your award entries hit the mark every time. With the deadline for the Best Businesswomen awards closing in six days time, this is an episode you've got to take note of.

{1:57} Fiona's recent award win.

{3:21} Diane's Lifetime Achievement Award in New York.

{4:06} What sponsorship brings to Diane.

{6:10} Denise on the judging process.

{8:01} Fiona on awards with voting processes.

{9:51} The importance of testimonials.

{10:43} Sponsors who enter their awards.

{12:43} Being disqualified for not attending a final.

{17:48} Be selective about the awards you enter.

{18:13} Why not attending awards finals dilutes your PR opportunities.

{19:20} How many awards should you enter in a year?

{21:11} Don't give up.

{23:44} Do your entry the right way.

{24:56} Awards that extend deadlines.

{26:23} What awards mean to each of our guests.

{29:17} A mention for some other excellent awards.

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

Connect with Fiona: https://scottmedia.uk/

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

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

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

Connect with Diane: https://shecanprosper.com/

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

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

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

Connect with Denise: https://purpolmarketing.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purpol-marketing-limited/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purpol_marketing2014

Karen Campbell - Marketing Director, Small Business Britain and founder of networking group Hotsy Totsy, is the latest guest on the Business Awards Show.

Karen is a ball of energy and a vital supporter of small businesses in the UK. She started out as a journalist, moving to London from her native Yorkshire to be the Arts & Entertainment correspondent for the Metro newspaper. From there, she moved into the fashion industry and then the Performing Rights Society. When the partying got too much, she decided it was time to start her own marketing business.

We track her journey through the early days of networking, to meeting Michelle Ovens, founder of Small Business Britain. The two hit it off, and led to Karen working with Michelle at SBB. We hear about the work this championing organisation does for UK small businesses. Discover the idea behind Small Business Saturday, The Small Business 100 and their awards programme, The Small Awards.

As an organisation, SBB champions opportunities for people with learning and physical difficulties. In addition, Karen explains the rationale behind the government-backed Lilac Review and why it touched her so deeply.

If you love podcasts, and we think you probably do as you're listening to us, you'll find another listen for your playlist. Karen and Michelle host the Small Business Britain Podcast, which covers many issues facing entrepreneurs but wrapped up in a fun conversation rather than dry business analysis.

Ultimately, this episode offers a wealth of tips on everything from networking to writing award entries to running your own business. Karen is such an entertaining guest and for anyone thinking of starting their own business, this may be a conversation that provides the inspiration to go and do it.

{1:50} Why Karen set up her own marketing business.

{5:18} Early experiences of networking.

{6:23} Hotsy Totsy - a different kind of networking.

{8:51} Networking while doing craft sessions.

{9:28} Getting involved with Small Business Britain.

{11:33} The importance of entrepreneurs.

{13:50} The Small Business 100.

{15:30} Supporting disabled entrepreneurs.

{18:24} The Small Awards.

{20:54} Karen's tips for successful award entries.

{22:16} Karen's podcast - The Small Business Britain Podcast.

{25:14} Karen's tips for anyone starting a business.

{27:17} Hotsy Totsy's 2025.

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

Connect with Karen: https://karencampbellmarketing.com/

Small Business Britain: https://smallbusinessbritain.uk/index.aspx

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

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

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

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@britainsmallbiz

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

Hotsy Totsy: https://hotsy-totsy.co.uk/

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hotsy-totsy2021/

The Small Awards: https://thesmallawards.uk/

The Small Business Britain Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1eobvkBdanzSmf5553Rmzl

f:Entrepreneur: https://f-entrepreneur.com/

Small Biz 100: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/small-biz-100

Nevina Holland founder of Peekaboo Studios is a maternity and newborn photography specialist with a rare talent. She has won multiple photography awards and is a Licentiate of The Master Photographers Association, recognition of her outstanding work for over fourteen years.

Nevina won the Best Customer Service award at the Best Businesswomen Awards in 2017! She has gone from strength to strength since then, growing her client base, continuing to develop her outstanding offering and building a business on word of mouth.

In our discussion, discover how Nevina followed her passion for photography to set up her own business. She chose to specialise in newborn photography, giving her a less competitive niche but also allowing her to explore her creativity to the limit.

She truly goes the extra mile for her clients as you'll hear. After all, there aren't many photographers who offer to collect their clients and bring them to the studio! But there is care throughout the client experience. Listen, and you may get ideas on how you can make yours even better for your customers.

As a multiple award-winner, Nevina has benefitted from broader visibility through increased press coverage. As a former marketer, she shares her tips for getting local papers to take note of your press releases so they get published. Find out why awards have an impact on clients' decisions to choose her for their newborn photography. And understand why going for photography and business awards makes sense for different reasons.

Another lesson Nevina shares is how she has identified gaps in her business by entering awards. As she says, nobody does an appraisal with you every year when you run your own business. So it's the one time you get the chance to scrutinise your business in detail. Find out what she discovered by going through the process.

This is the perfect episode for anyone in a creative field striving to grow their business. Equally, for anyone running a small business, it is a perfect example of an entrepreneur who has leveraged awards to increase their visibility and strengthen their reputation.

{2:02} Why Nevina Started Peekaboo Studios.

{6:45} Specialising in newborn photography.

{9:56} Getting the first clients.

{12:28} Why Nevina gets so many recommendations.

{19:01} Using props and including Grandparents in photoshoots.

{21:35} Photography awards v business awards.

{25:55} Why you must save your award entries.

{28:32} How applying for awards helped Nevina to improve her business .

{30:34} Using awards to maximise press coverage for your business.

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

Connect with Nevina: https://www.peekaboostudios.co.uk/

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nevina-holland-41781623/