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.

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 217: My Awards Nightmare with Hayley Plumb

  Sep 29, 202642 min

  Hayley Plumb entered her first ever award full of excitement. What followed was a night she will never forget, for all the wrong reasons. Debbie Gilbert talks to Preston nail technician Hayley, founder of Nailed It by Hayley, about her first ever experience entering business awards. Hayley shares how she built her nail technician business from scratch after losing her job while pregnant, building a studio in her garage. After two and a half years her competitive streak led her to enter a major industry awards ceremony. She describes a lengthy, repetitive application process that led to her being told she was a finalist while entries were still open. Next came a chaotic awards night involving long queues, no food, mismatched presentations, and winners left stranded far from the stage. Debbie shares a similarly disappointing experience of her own, and the two discuss what credible, well run awards should look like, and why poor experiences risk damaging trust in the awards industry as a whole. {2:20} How Hayley came to set up her nail business. {5:35} Why she entered the Health & Beauty Awards. {6:23} A convoluted entry process that did not allow her to showcase her work. {9:30} The questionable next stage of the process. {10:45} Buying tickets for the final. {13:10 } The queue for photos. {15:23} The awards begin. {20:00} Categories with fifty finalists. {20:32} Hayley's feelings about awards after her first experience and what happened with her category. {22:08} Debbie's bad awards experience in June. {25:22} Hayley's lasting feelings. {29:37} How those awards could have been run differently. {35:40} Judging using AI. Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/ Connect with Hayley: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Nailed-it-by-Hayley-61557313196357/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenailedit_byhayley/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@naileditby.hayley

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  The Business Awards Show

  Episode 216: Supporting the Next Generation of Award Winners with Rosie di Lecce

  Sep 22, 202636 min

  Rosie di Lecce has worked with global brands and budgets to match. However, what genuinely excites her is watching a small business win its first award. Rosie, founder of the award winning agency Saia Creative and sponsor of the Best New Business category at this year's Best Business Women Awards, tells us why. Rosie shares the mindset shift that led her to start her own agency, and the three mistakes she sees businesses make time and again. We talk about trust in the marketing industry and Rosie gives her thoughts on why it is being eroded. In a fascinating conversation, Rosie argues why events and offline touchpoints are quietly outperforming social media, and highlights the risks of leaning too heavily on AI for strategy and content. To wrap up, Rosie also explains why she chose to sponsor small businesses specifically, and shares her advice for planning ahead for next year. About Rosie Rosie Di Lecce is a Fractional Marketing Director, Marketing Strategist and founder of Saia Creative, an award-winning boutique marketing and branding agency helping SMEs turn scattered marketing into focused, strategy-led activity that drives growth. With 15 years of experience, Rosie has supported hundreds of clients internationally, from start-ups and SMEs to global brands including Swarovski, Heineken and Kawasaki. Her expertise spans marketing strategy, high-converting copy, campaigns, launches and funnels, combining senior-level strategic thinking with hands-on implementation. Rosie believes effective marketing starts with understanding the business, its audience and its goals. She is also a strong advocate for positive marketing and ethical copywriting, rejecting manipulative tactics in favour of clear messaging and genuine audience connection. {1:30} Why Rosie started her own business 10 years ago. {2:46} How a new business attracts clients. {4:32} The common mistakes made by new businesses. {10:24} The bad advice we see in the marketing world. {15:34} The channels delivering most leads. {18:49} Marketing approaches that stand out. {21:33} Using AI wisely in marketing. {27:35} Where AI will help your business. {30:06} Why Rosie sponsored the Best New Business category at this year's Best Businesswomen Awards. {32:27} What's next for Rosie and her advice to businesses everywhere. Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/ Connect with Rosie: http://www.saiacreative.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saiacreative/home/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saia.creative

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  The Business Awards Show

  Episode 215: Winning the Award is Just the Beginning with Keely Armitt

  Sep 15, 202632 min

  Winning the award is easy compared to what happens next. Keely Armitt explains why so few businesses actually cash in on their win, and how to be one that does. Keely is founder of Keely Armitt Business Management, and discusses her journey from a career in sports management into becoming an accredited online business manager. In this episode, Keely explains the common operational problems that hold growing businesses back. From there, she helps overwhelmed founders regain control through a structured three month plan, and explains why AI genuinely earns its place in day to day operations. Drawing on her background writing multi-million-pound funding bids, Keely shares why she now writes award entries for clients and has created a framework, CAMM (Celebrate, Amplify, Monetise and Multiply), to help businesses make the most of a win. She explains why so few businesses leverage their award success, and the real commercial opportunities they leave on the table. About Keely Keely Armitt is a business strategist, Online Business Manager and awards specialist who helps ambitious business owners build stronger, more scalable and visible businesses. Following a 20-year career spanning operations, marketing, major projects and senior leadership, Keely launched her own consultancy to help entrepreneurs create the strategy, systems and structure they need to grow without becoming the bottleneck in their business. She also specialises in business awards, helping companies identify the right opportunities, create compelling, evidence-led submissions and maximise the commercial value of winning. She is creator of the Award Winner's Playbook, designed to help businesses turn award recognition into lasting brand and business growth. {2:15} Keely's background that led to running her own business. {5:00} Keely's competitive nature and her roles in sports management. {6:58} The common challenges faced by growing businesses. {10:13} Supporting clients in a state of overwhelm. {12:53} How Keely uses AI. {15:12} Prioritising key tasks for businesses. {18:25} What Keely brings to award entry writing. {21:04} Leveraging an awards plan. {29:05} Keely's future plans. Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/ Connect with Keely: https://keelyarmitt.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keely-armitt/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ka-businessmanagement/home/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keelyarmittbusinessmanagement/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeelyArmittBusinessManagement/

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  The Business Awards Show

  Episode 214: Of Course You Can Win an Award with Helen Kenworthy

  Sep 8, 202634 min

  Helen Kenworthy has spent thirty years telling people of course you can. She explains why she finally started believing it about her own award entries too. Helen, founder of Of Course You Can Coach, Education Selection Box, RYTC Creative CIC and co-founder of Give Get Go Education, reflects on thirty years of building organically connected businesses rooted in confidence, creativity and inclusion. Helen shares how her own journey from a shy child into performing arts shaped her belief that everyone can succeed once they experience one small win. Furthermore, she explains how that philosophy underpins her coaching and work supporting young people with additional needs. Crucially, she discusses how a Youth Arts Champion award, nominated by one of her own students, became a genuine turning point for her business. Helen also reveals why awards continue to build trust, opening doors with funders, offering welcome validation after decades of entrepreneurship. About Helen Helen is the founder and director of three organisations — RYTC Creatives CIC, Education Selection Box CIC, and Give Get Go Education. Her conviction is that people don't need to be squeezed into systems that were never designed for them; the systems need to bend around them. With nearly 30 years across the business and creative sectors as a coach, mentor, author, and actor, Helen has spent her career proving that creativity, rigour, and heart aren't mutually exclusive. Her work spans SEND-informed and alternative education, creative arts for mental health, careers training, and family support — underpinned by her trademarked "Of Course You Can!™" methodology and her "Brilliantly Underestimated" philosophy. In 2026 alone, she picked up the Prestige Awards SEND Provider of the Year and the SME Awards Best Inclusive Creative Learning Partnership of the Year (Warwickshire), adding to a track record that includes the Golden Peacock Trailblazer Award. {2:20} What Helen was doing thirty years ago. {5:45} Moving into the SEND sector. {8:04} Education Selection Box is born. {10:59} The interconnectedness of Helen's work. {11:59} Helen's focus on solutions. {13:48} The 'Brilliantly Underestimated' and how to get them to believe in themselves. {19:46} How awards benefitted Helen and her business. {28:30} How Helen has succeeded over thirty years. Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/ Connect with Helen: https://helenkenworthy.com/ https://www.educationselectionbox.com/ https://www.rytc.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ofcourseyoucancoach/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/education-selection-box/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/therytc/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofcourseyoucancoach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581154236404&rdid=iVK8A4ogy3Up0Nht&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1ALBuLBuir%2F

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  The Business Awards Show

  Episode 213: Finding Your Voice to Become an Award Winner with Helen von Dadelszen

  Sep 1, 202629 min

  Behind every credible award entry and engaging acceptance speech is someone who has learned how to communicate with impact. In this episode, Helen von Dadelszen shows us how. Helen is founder of Present Potential and author of 'Courageous Action', the ideal book for helping people communicate more confidently. She tells Debbie why nerves are normal, sharing practical tips on reading the brief carefully, respecting time limits, and bringing genuine personality rather than a rehearsed script. Additionally, she discusses the growing use of video entries, how to make a pitch memorable within a strict time limit, and the breathing and grounding techniques that help manage nerves. Helen and Debbie also compare approaches to acceptance speeches, and why fear of public speaking should never stop someone entering an award. Her tips could be the catalyst for entering your business into awards. Don't miss it! About Helen Helen von Dadelszen helps smart, thoughtful professionals turn their ideas into clear, confident and impactful communication. She believes confidence is built through action, and that everyone has a unique communication style that can be strengthened and shared. As founder of Present Potential Sàrl, Helen provides practical training and coaching in public speaking, presentation skills, vocal presence and confident communication, working across technical, scientific, academic and humanitarian fields. She is also the author of 'Courageous Action: Your Playbook for Communicating Confidently One Step at a Time', a hands-on guide to building communication confidence. Her work is strongly influenced by improvisational theatre, helping clients become more present and comfortable with uncertainty. An active Toastmasters member and European speech contest winner, Helen is originally from New Zealand. Now based in Switzerland, she brings an international, human-centred approach to communication coaching. {2:08} Helen's background and her journey to Present Potential. {4:08} Helen's typical clients. {6:02} How to prepare for an awards presentation. {12:08} The importance of planning your pitch. {14:51} Helen's book 'Courageous Action'. {17:30} How to give a good acceptance speech. {24:23} Connecting with an audience. {26:49} Helen's future plans. Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/ Connect with Helen: https://academy.presentpotential.ch/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-von-dadelszen/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/present-potential/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/present_potential YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB_2NMosqJQBBiv5ux3mYHg Helen's book 'Courageous Action': https://courageousaction.ch/

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