We're diving into the heart of the Spelthorne Business Awards this time around. This year marks the eighth and final round of these awards, and they’re all about celebrating our local business heroes - especially the micro businesses that really pack a punch! Julia Owen, our guest and Senior Economic Development Officer at Spelthorne Borough Council, spills the beans on how these awards spotlight the incredible stories behind local businesses and why they matter. We chat about the importance of recognition, the diverse categories you can enter (seriously, there's a Rising Star award, how cool is that?), and why even if you don’t win, the whole application process can be a game changer for your business. So, if you’re a local business owner, or just curious about what makes the Spelthorne community tick, stick around, because this episode is packed with insights.
Takeaways:
Micro businesses are often the stars of the show, proving that size doesn’t always matter in business success.
The Spelthorne Business Awards are not just about winning; they offer invaluable networking opportunities for local businesses.
This year marks the final Spelthorne Business Awards under its current format, making it extra special for the community.
Categories like Rising Star and Breaking Down Barriers highlight the diversity and inclusivity of the local business scene.
The awards process encourages reflection and growth, making it a beneficial exercise even for non-finalists.
The gala night is all about celebrating achievements with good vibes, great food, and local entertainment, so dress to impress!
Some of our strongest entrants are micro businesses. Great stories are always about size.
Some of those backstories about why people have started businesses and what they're doing in their business really win the hearts and minds of some of the judges as well.
Gareth Davies:
That's Julia Owen, Senior Economic Development Officer at Spelthorne Borough Council. And if you run a business locally, this episode is worth your time. Welcome to the Sheppertonian.
I'm Gareth and this is the podcast bringing you stories and voices from in and around Shepperton in Surrey. Before we get into it, a thank you to the partners and supporters who make production possible through the Sheppertonian Business Club.
Our partners, the Ferry Coffee Shop, purveyors of fine coffee, tea and snacks and more. Danielle Davies, Celebrant: Every story deserves a ceremony as unique as the people at its heart; and the Sound Boutique: Thoughtful audio for every story... and to our supporters, including Island Motors, Shepperton-based family run MOT servicing and repairs, pre-booked independent evenings and weekends and they'll even collect and return your vehicle. And a quick mention, there's now a community groups page on the Sheppertonian website.
If you're involved in a local group or just want to browse what's out there, head to thesheppertonian.uk and look for the community groups page.
Today, the Spelthorne Business Awards. They've been running for eight years, celebrating local businesses across the borough.
I sat down with Julia to find out what the awards are, who they're for and why this year matters more than most. I started by asking Julia what the awards are really about.
Julia Owen:
It's the eighth and final year of our Spelthorne Business Awards in its current form.
With the move to the sort of unitary arrangements, this final edition is about celebrating everything about our business community and what they've built over the last eight years.
And that's really been the ethos over the last eight years, really celebrating local businesses, how they've grown, their businesses and how they succeed.
And we hope it offers networking opportunities, celebration and that badge of endorsement that they're an award winner that hopefully opens new opportunities for them as well.
Gareth Davies:
A badge of endorsement.
That's a phrase worth sitting with because for a small business, external recognition can change how customers, partners and and even yourself see what you've built.
Julia Owen:
The awards are really important to us. None of it would be possible without the support of our sponsors and partners.
Their generosity and the belief in recognising local success and championing local business has been the Heart of the awards. And there's a huge sense of pride as the awards have grown into something that really reflects the spirit of Spelthbourne as well.
But it's something we're really proud of and it's our chance to say thank you to sponsors, partners and the business community.
Gareth Davies:
There's a reason this year carries more weight than the previous seven. I asked Julia what's behind it.
Julia Owen:
won't exist as a borough from:
We hope, as we sort of transition into West Surrey, that there will be a continuation of of some kind of business awards where the local authority will celebrate the business community. We know Runnymede and Guildford have done business awards in the past, so we hope it will continue, but it will be in a different guise.
Gareth Davies:
So there's a future beyond Spellthorne, potentially even bigger. But this is the last chance to enter under the name that's meant something locally for eight years.
If you've got an image in your head of what a business award looks like, Julia might surprise you.
Julia Owen:
People are often surprised by how many and the range of categories there are. So it's not just the best business in a particular area, although we do have those as well.
But we've introduced awards like Rising Star, which introduces individual employees and so people can nominate. It could be an apprentice, but it could be anyone within an organization that's done something stand out and could be honoured for that.
We've got a Breaking Down Barriers award again was introduced last year, which rewards businesses champion inclusion and accessibility. We've got community and charity awards this year.
For the first time, we're doing a Business Person of the Year award again that's evolved from some of the other categories.
We have done sort of a franchise award before, but we found that business person is probably a bit more inclusive and can cover franchise operators as well. So there is a range and we have continued to evolve those categories to fit in with applicants, to make it easy to apply.
Gareth Davies:
Rising Star, that stood out to me. If you employ someone brilliant, this is a way to put their name forward. It's not just for business owners.
The most common thing Julia hears from businesses who don't enter is probably what you'd guess.
Julia Owen:
There's lots of small businesses when we're targeting them, that say they're too small, but in reality, some of our strongest entrants are micro businesses.
Great stories aren't always about size, although we like to see businesses developing some of those backstories about why people have started businesses and what they're doing in their business really win the hearts and minds of some of the judges as well.
Gareth Davies:
ookery, first entered back in:
Julia Owen:
business plan competition in:
And then last year she won the Businesswoman of the Year category Best Small Business Award. And she was crowned the overall best business in Spelthorne at those awards.
So she's a really good example of seeing the benefit of entering the awards and how it's supported her business journey as well.
Gareth Davies:
That journey started with one application, but I wanted to know, what about the businesses that don't make the finals, even.
Julia Owen:
If they don't win?
I think people have found the value, the whole process of developing the application, about reflection about your business, how you've grown it, where you want it to go, some of those lovely case studies or testimonials that you have to think about to perhaps support your application. It's really worthwhile for your marketing and your own sort of business plans as well.
So it's a worthwhile exercise regardless of whether you become a finalist or winner.
Gareth Davies:
So you're thinking about it. What does it actually involve?
Julia Owen:
It's a pretty straightforward online form. We say it should take about 30 to 40 minutes. It can take people a lot longer, but you can save it and return to it.
You don't have to do it all in one go. It's very manageable.
So even for for busy owners, there are some basic information that we ask about your business and then there's some specific information relevant for the particular category that does need a little bit of thought if you going to be a finalist. But the actual process doesn't take too.
Gareth Davies:
Long, so the form itself isn't the hurdle. And if you want a hand, there are application workshops running across the borough.
Julia Owen:
and:
All the details will be on the website and people can book on to attend those.
Gareth Davies:
And those workshops aren't just about filling in a form.
Julia Owen:
We get some previous winners in to talk about how they've developed their own applications and it's an opportunity for our sponsors and judges to come in to give some insight into what they look for and what marks out a really good application for them when they're judging. So you get that kind of feedback and also those conversations between other businesses that are attending the workshop as well.
You know, the sort of vibe off each other, just telling their own business stories and the kind of things that they might be considering. It's really, really worthwhile.
Gareth Davies:
Here are the dates. Entries are open now and close on 19th June.
Finalists are announced at the end of July and the ceremony takes place on Friday 2nd October at the Holiday Inn in Shepperton. I asked Julia what that night is actually like.
Julia Owen:
It's a gala ceremony and dinner. It's a real highlight of the programme this year. We're back at the Holiday Inn in Shepperton. It's a real celebration. Everyone dresses to impress.
It's a great atmosphere, there's good food and local entertainment and it's that balance between formality and fun, really. So we find that we have people coming along to support other businesses that have reached the finals.
So it's all about finding out people's stories, who's won as finalists. There's lots of pictures, lots of opportunity, posting those pictures on social media.
So we do think it's a real sort of highlight for the business community.
Gareth Davies:
And if you're wondering about the dress code, it's not black tie.
Julia Owen:
We say that the dress code is dressed to impress. I think previously it'd been black tie. That can put some people off in terms of having to wear a black tie or the expense of hire.
Whereas we want everyone to have a good time, but also feel comfortable as well.
Gareth Davies:
And behind all of this, the people who make the awards possible in the first place.
Julia Owen:
The awards are sponsored and have been since their inception by our local business community as well. So they invest their time, money and energy into making what the awards as they are. They act as judges, which is really valuable.
They come along to the ceremony, they help promote the awards to clients and customers and are generally just supportive of the business community.
Gareth Davies:
That was Julia Owen, Senior Economic Development Officer at Spelthorne Borough Council. Entries for the Spelthorne Business Awards are open right now.
The deadline is 19th June and the ceremony takes place on Friday, 2nd October at the Holiday Inn in Shepperton. Head to the Spelthorne Borough Council website for full details and to start your application.
If you're part of a local community group or know of one, check out the new Community Group's page at thesheppertonian.uk thanks, as always, to the partners and supporters backing the Sheppertonian through the Business Club. Their support keeps this podcast rooted in the community. I'm Gareth. This has been the Sheppertonian. Until next time, I'll see you around.
