The Business Awards Show

Welcome to the Business Awards Show, where weshare valuable information, secret nuggets, to get youraward entry noticed by the judges for all the right reasons. Our weekly episodes also feature inspirationalinterviews with winners, judges, and sponsors. So let's dive in and start your journey to award winning success.

The Business Awards Show is a business podcast hosted by Debbie Gilbert, with 150 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Debbie Gilbert hosts The Business Awards Show, a business show with 150 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  The Business Awards Show

  Episode 211: Customer Service First, Awards Follow with Natalie Roukin and Jenna Stopforth

  Aug 18, 202632 min

  Natalie Roukin and Jenna Stopforth have never chased awards. Their priority was to make every client feel special, and the trophies followed. The founders of By Two Studio, an award-winning St Albans-based interior design business, share how they built a business founded on customer service, having met while training as interior designers. They also explain how getting involved right at the architect and builder stage leads to better results. To that end, Natalie and Jenna discuss the technology they use to bring designs to life, the importance of understanding how a family actually lives before decorating, and why they work with a coach to keep improving their customer journey. They also touch on current design trends, the emotional side of transforming people's homes, and their exciting plans to open a second studio in Spain within the next few years. About Natalie and Jenna Natalie Roukin and Jenna Stopforth are the friends and business partners behind By Two Studio, brought together by a shared love of interiors over thirteen years ago when they left established careers to retrain in interior design. Natalie came from a background as an Executive PA and Jenna from advertising, and they quickly discovered a shared belief that great design is about far more than how a home looks, it is about how it makes people feel and live. After working together through Natalie Roukin Interiors, they launched By Two Studio, a residential design studio specialising in full home renovations and new builds across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and North London. Customer experience remains central, reflected in their Silver win in the Customer Service category at the Best Businesswomen Awards 2025 and multiple Best of Houzz Customer Service Awards. {2:40} How Natalie got into interior design. {3:20} How the tqo partners met. {3:44} The roots of Jenna's passion for interior design. {4:21} Choosing the name 'By Two Studio'. {5:03} Who does what in the business? {5:59} Growing the client base. {7:08} Navigating wild client ideas. {8:25} Using technology to enhance customer experience. {9:53} Incorporating awards into the marketing process. {12:58} How interior design can influence architectural design. {15:07} Jenna's favourite project. {16:34} Natalie's thoughts on Grand Designs and other property shows. {17:56} Why exceptional customer service is so important to Natalie and Jenna. {19:10} The benefits of working with a coach. {20:52} The misconceptions about interior design. {24:30} The satisfaction in transforming people's homes. {26:25} Workspaces morphing into home spaces. {26:55} What's on trend in design at the moment? {29:27} By Two Studio's future growth plans. Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/ Connect with By Two Studio: https://bytwostudio.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bytwostudio/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bytwostudio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/by.two.studio/ Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/bytwostudiolimited/ Houzz: https://www.houzz.co.uk/hznb/professionals/interior-designers/by-two-studio-pfvwus-pf~973886982

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  The Business Awards Show

  Episode 210: Why Award Wins Open Doors for Charities with Phoenix Humphreys

  Aug 11, 202633 min

  Grant funding can feel like a locked door, but in this episode we discover how a little recognition can be the key that opens it. Debbie Gilbert is joined by Phoenix Humphreys, founder of Raise to Rise, who helps charities and community organisations secure funding in an ethical and sustainable way. Phoenix shares her unlikely route from a corporate facilities role into fundraising, describing the challenges of building a solo consultancy. We also talk AI and why human insight will always trump it in writing a persuasive grant bid. She explains how charities and CICs become grant ready, and clarifies the difference between the two structures. Crucially, she discusses how entering business awards builds trust, visibility and even funding opportunities for good causes. Phoenix also reflects on her own award wins and reveals her long term ambition to launch her own grant giving foundation. About Phoenix Phoenix Humphreys is the Founder of Raise to Rise, a multi award-winning fundraising consultancy making expert fundraising support accessible and affordable for charities, CICs and community organisations across the UK. Launched in 2024, Raise to Rise has grown from one client to supporting more than 40 charities and CICs nationwide, with 17 becoming long-term partners. For those partners, Phoenix has secured £495,868 in grant funding, creating an estimated £1.98 million in potential social value, benefiting vulnerable communities from care leavers to domestic abuse survivors. A passionate sector advocate, Phoenix mentors emerging fundraisers and has delivered more than 80 free consultations. She is a Silver Award winner at the 2025 Best Business Women Awards, a 2024 Woman Who "One to Watch" winner, and features in the #iAlso100 list. {2:10} Why Phoenix founded Raise to Rise. {4:18} Phoenix's corporate career. {5:23} The greatest challenges of the first three years. {6:35} Getting leads. {9:52} How Raise to Rise helps charities and CICs. {12:25 } The right tools for researching appropriate grants. {14:35} How organisations prepare to become grant ready. {17:29} The difference between a charity and a CIC. {19:06} How awards support grant applications. {21:20} Why national awards can raise a charity's exposure significantly. {24:09} Harnessing the power of awards to grow Raise to Rise. {26:09} Phoenix's awards journey. {30:07} Phoenix's big dream for the future. Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/ Connect with Phoenix: https://raisetorise.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/raise-to-rise/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoenix-humphreys-79467019b/

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  The Business Awards Show

  Episode 209: Decoding the Art of the Award Entry with Rachel Hayward

  Aug 4, 202630 min

  Award entries are part CV, part pitch, and part confession. Rachel Hayward has spent over a decade helping businesses get all three right. Rachel Hayward, founder of Ask the Chameleon, speaks to Debbie Gilbert about starting her business, helping her clients successfully win grants, tenders, and awards, and how she has become a multi-award winner herself. Winner of the Best Solopreneur Award at the inaugural Best SME Awards, Rachel explains how redundancy from the charity sector led her into bid writing, and why she has chosen to stay a solopreneur rather than scale up. She has championed small businesses through the FSB. Rachel also discusses how entering awards allows her to better understand the process. Crucially, she exposes the dangers of relying on AI for entries, and why she believes human judging will always matter more than automated scoring. About Rachel Rachel Hayward is Managing Director of Ask the Chameleon Ltd, the award-winning bid writing and procurement consultancy helping SMEs, charities and social enterprises compete, and win, in markets dominated by much larger organisations. Since 2015 she has secured access to more than £192.4 million through successful bids, frameworks and tenders, including £4.6 million in charitable grants. As a micro business owner herself, Rachel understands what it takes to compete in a bigger game. Her expertise spans public sector procurement, grant funding, strategic bid writing and award submissions, including the King's Awards for Enterprise and Chamber of Commerce Awards. She recently led the Ducks in a Row crowdfunding campaign for Trent Rowing Club, raising £31,140 in memory of her late father, the club's President for over 30 years. Her mission is simple: to prove that size should never limit ambition. With the right strategy, even the smallest organisations can compete - and win – in the biggest games. {2:25} Why Rachel started Ask The Chameleon. {3:54} Where did the name 'Ask the Chameleon' come from? {5:14} How Rachel built her client base. {7:00} A conscious decision to remain a solopreneur. {9:18} Rachel's efforts to support other small businesses. {12:03 } How Rachel approaches clients requiring award-entry support. {16:05} Rachel's own awards journey. {19:12} The dangers of using AI for award entries. {22:36} How to make your award entry stand out. {26:55} What's on the agenda for the next few years? {28:35} Rachel's tendering business. Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/ Connect with Rachel: https://www.askthechameleon.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelhaywardaskthechameleon/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-the-chameleon-ltd/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/askthechameleon/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askthechameleon/

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  The Business Awards Show

  Episode 208: Why Customer Service Still Wins Awards with Ingrid Sanderson

  Jul 28, 202634 min

  Ingrid Sanderson didn't win Gold for Best Customer Service by accident. She built her whole business around it. Debbie Gilbert talks to Ingrid Sanderson, founder of Principal Business Travel and winner of the Gold Award for Best Customer Service at the Best SME Awards, to find out more. Ingrid explains why she set up her own agency in 1999, the licensing hurdles that protected clients from the start, and how losing airline commissions forced her to rebuild the business around transparent service fees. She shares how word of mouth propelled her business and how staff moving between companies grew her client base. Ingrid also discusses proactive problem-solving during flight disruptions, as in Dubai and Doha this year. Furthermore, she discusses new initiatives like wellness guides and a loyalty scheme for travellers. Finally, we hear why entering awards has become an unexpected but valuable source of networking and PR. About Ingrid Ingrid Sanderson is the founder of Principal Business Travel, a business she has grown and led for over 26 years through industry disruption, global crises and changing markets. An award-winning entrepreneur and champion of customer service, she is also co-founder of the Executive Round Table, helping business owners build resilient, successful businesses. {2:56} Why Ingrid started her own travel agency. {5:41} The challenges involved in setting up a travel agency. {10:31} Growing and maintaining a client base. {16:25} Ingrid's outstanding approach to customer service. {25:44} Ingrid's favourite travel destinations. {26:46 } Setting up a new coaching business. {29:35} Future plans for Principal Travel. {30:44} Why Ingrid finally began to enter awards. Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/ Connect with Ingrid: https://principaltravel.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/principal-world-travel/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingridsanderson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/principalworld/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/principalbusinesstravel/ The Executive Round Table: https://execroundtable.co.uk/ Principal Rewards: https://principaltravel.co.uk/principal-rewards/

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  The Business Awards Show

  Episode 207: Still Winning Awards After 26 Years and Why it Matters with Vaishali Shah

  Jul 21, 202633 min

  div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 gap-3 [&_>_*:last-child]:mb-0 standard-markdown"> In February this year, Ananya Cards won Best Wedding Stationery at the UK Weddings and Honeymoon Awards. It was another in a long list of awards founder Vaishali Shah has won over 26 years in business. And it meant just as much as her first. In this episode, Debbie Gilbert chats to Vaishali, founder of Creative ID and Ananya Cards, sharing how she built her two businesses. She discusses balancing print and digital stationery, why entering awards helps founders clarify their message, and how networking and nurturing long-term client relationships have driven growth. As a judge for the Wedding Industry Awards, Vaishali explains why she pushed for greater diversity on judging panels and what makes an entry stand out. FInally, we get to hear some exciting plans for her businesses' future growth. About Vaishali Vaishali Shah is an award-winning entrepreneur with two brands: Creative ID, a branding and marketing consultancy, and Ananya Cards, a bespoke wedding and event stationery studio. She celebrated 25 years of Creative ID in 2025 and marks 20 years of Ananya Cards in 2026. Her work spans food, hospitality and lifestyle businesses, with clients including Michelin-starred chefs, international hotel groups and homegrown brands across the UK and UAE. Vaishali has been a mulitple award-winner for both her businesses. In addition, she has served as a judge for The Wedding Industry Awards for five years, evaluating entries with the same eye she brings to client work: the details, the consistency and the story a brand tells. A regular voice in entrepreneurship, branding and marketing conversations, Vaishali is a frequent podcast guest and speaker, with features in Forbes, the BBC, The Sunday Times, Brides, SheerLuxe and Stylist. {2:36} Starting out in branding and marketing. {4:20} Launching a luxury card brand. {6:36} How the wedding stationery business has developed and lasted. {8:29} Why VAishali began entering awards. {11:42} The wedding stationery market and how Ananya stands out. {14:18} How B2C strategy can mirror B2B. {15:22} Staying up-to-date with design trends. {17:12} Dealing with client requests that don't fit the brand or brief. {18:55} How Vaishali works with clients to refresh their branding. {20:57} The importance of networking to achieve business growth. {22:14} Being a judge for the Wedding Industry Awards. {25:45} Why diversity is so important in awards. {27:16} What makes a business stand out from an award entry. {29:30} Vaishali's plans for the next 5 years. Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/ Connect with Vaishali: https://www.creative-id.com/ https://www.ananyacards.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creativeid/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ananyacards/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ananyacards Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativeidsocial https://www.instagram.com/ananyacards TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ananyacards YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vaishalishah_creative Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/ananyacards/

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