Tonbridge Business Awards 2026

The Tonbridge Business Awards are organised and hosted by The TN Awards Company.

Here is our special podcast, recorded on the night and generously sponsored and hosted by Brilliant Businesses.

Compères: Jess Gibson 

Headline Sponsor: Baxall Construction

Winner interviews:

New Business of the Year, sponsored by Cooper Burnett: Eleanor Clark of Eleanor Clark Dance Company

Food and Drink Business of the Year, sponsored by Clarke Williams Insurance Brokers: Fran and Richard Lee of The Greyhound Charcott and Jenny Perrott of Ridings Cafe

Health & Wellbeing Business of the Year, sponsored by Emma Coleman, Skin: Craig Alexander of Anatomy Gyms

Hair & Beauty Business of the Year, supported by Matt Boughton, Leader of TMBC: Concept Beauty Clinic

Creative Business of the Year, sponsored by Stagbrook: Jamie Cutts of Kensington Scott Interiors 

Retail Business of the Year, sponsored by DMD Restaurants: Ben Beatty of The BBQ Hub

Micro Business of the Year, sponsored by Get Ahead VA: Helene Lo of Loaf Story

Small Business of the Year, sponsored by Berry & Lamberts Solicitors: Alex Town of Towns Bathrooms

Large Business of the Year, sponsored by HR Dept West Kent: Jo Wimble-Groves of Active Digital

Businessperson of the Year, sponsored by GFHR Consulting: Simon Welham of Welham Jones Funerals and Memorials

Businesswoman of the Year, sponsored by Dee Airey: Dr Iram Sheikh of Andrew House Dental Practice

Changemaker Award, sponsored by Sevenoaks District Chamber of Commerce: Charity Bank

Conversation with Headline Sponsor Malcolm Clarke, Chairman of Baxall Costruction

Close: Jess Gibson, the TN Awards Company

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

I'm at the Tunbridge Business Awards and I'm with Jess Gibson who is the the host and the organizer from the TN Awards Company. My name is Nick Bryant and I'm the podcast host for the evening. Jess, how are you?

SPEAKER_04 0:14

I'm very well. That was very formal. Pleased to meet you.

SPEAKER_02 0:18

Like we never met before.

SPEAKER_04 0:21

So uh firstly, apologies to Nick because he is backstage at the awards. He is very close to the action. So as people come to the lecturing, they pick up their trophy, they come straight off stage to come and see Nick, but it also means he's in the cupboard with no air conditioning. Um and it is it's like a volcano in here. I'm so sorry it's so hot. We've tried to the hottest day on on record for June, and I'm very sorry, but thank you for doing this.

SPEAKER_02 0:48

You cannot control the weather. I remember last year it was really hot, but not this one. Um and hasn't it come around quickly again? And it's so really great to be back again this year to do it again, all again.

SPEAKER_04 0:57

And every year, this is the third year that I've I hosted the Thomas Business Awards, and it and it just seems to get bigger and better. Uh there's so much excitement out there, everyone knows what to expect this time, and also the number and standard of entries has has been amazing this year. I'm really excited for the winners and are highly commended to to hear their names called out. And yeah, it's just gonna be a brilliant evening.

SPEAKER_02 1:19

Is it the same categories it is, isn't it?

SPEAKER_04 1:21

Yeah, it's the same um awards as last year, but this time we've introduced a businesswoman of the year award. I do find that um there are so many women do incredible things in business locally, and sometimes they just are intimidated and don't put themselves forth a business person of the year, which is obviously open to everyone. But I thought let's just have a category where it can really shine a light on some of these incredible women in in our town and what they're doing. Um, and it's just been wonderful. A huge number of entries for this category, so it's exciting to see to um yeah, the response and looking forward to running it across all the awards.

SPEAKER_02 1:55

Yeah, and seeing their smiling faces when they come back here when they won the award. That's the highlight for me, of course.

SPEAKER_04 2:00

Oh, do you know what the highlight for me is listening to your podcast afterwards because the evening flies and obviously I'm on stage, so I don't get to talk to everyone afterwards, but just the next day, just listening when you stitched it all together and just hearing the reactions and how much it means to people, it makes it all worthwhile, and it's why I do what I do, and it's just a reminder of how many incredible businesses we have in our community. So, Nick, thank you for sponsoring this the podcast, for giving up a beautiful June evening for this evening and for being here. I really appreciate it.

SPEAKER_02 2:32

It's my pleasure, and as always, you're doing a great job. Let's have a great evening, and um, I'll let you get on and go out with the guests. Let's go. Let's go, thank you. Congratulations. Um, new business of the year, Eleanor Clark Dance Company. And I'm with Eleanor, how are you? How do you feel?

SPEAKER_07 2:46

Um completely shocked, but very, very grateful.

SPEAKER_02 2:49

Isn't it a wonderful feeling? Like you sit in there, you don't know what to expect, and suddenly your name comes up.

SPEAKER_07 2:54

Oh, absolutely. I didn't expect it at all.

SPEAKER_02 2:56

And um the lady sitting with you is I'm Anna from Cooper Bennett. You're from Cooper Bennett, of course. Which are the sponsors? So and Anna, it must be very proud for you to sponsor an award like this.

SPEAKER_00 3:05

Oh, absolutely, and I think the reaction from Eleanor and the the fact that this new business award is amazing, and I think she's done brilliantly, and I think this is what the whole thing is about new businesses coming to Tunbridge and you know progressing, and it's inspiring to me.

SPEAKER_02 3:19

So Eleanor, just tell us a little bit. I mean, obviously you're a you're you're a dance company, but just give a little bit of background about what you do.

SPEAKER_07 3:25

Um, so we run weekly dance and musical theatre classes for children. Um so the youngest we currently have is five, and the oldest is 18. Um, so yeah, a whole whole range of classes from yeah, ballet tap, modern to jazz, musical theatre.

SPEAKER_02 3:40

And how long have you been going?

SPEAKER_07 3:41

Um, just a year. So we opened on the 4th of June 2025.

SPEAKER_02 3:46

Congratulations.

SPEAKER_07 3:47

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 3:48

You probably want to just go off and enjoy your evening rather than rather than talk to me. Um, but I'll let you go because we've got some more people coming. But thank you very much. Congratulations, well done. Well done, well done.

unknown 3:58

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 3:59

So I'm I'm with the um the second award of the evening, which is the food and drink business of the year. We've got two winners, which is really exciting. We've got the greyhound from Charcot, we've got Fran and Richard Lee, but I guess Fran Lee is here. I'm here. And we've got the Rylings Cafe, and we've got Jenny from it. So let's start with the Greyhound. How'd you feel? What was it like?

SPEAKER_05 4:17

Oh, absolutely elated. Um, so happy. I really didn't think we could do this again. It's it's our second time of winning, which I'm so chuffed about. Well done. Um, first time was the first year of the awards. Um, it just makes you feel hugely valued for everything that you put into running your business in a small local community. So it's fabulous to be recognised.

SPEAKER_02 4:39

Hospitality is hard, isn't it, for both of you. So you're doing so well. Really tough at the moment. Same for you, Jenny. Yeah.

SPEAKER_13 4:45

Yeah, absolutely. I think actually anybody in this category should feel very proud. I think it's a very it's a it's not an easy place to be at the moment. No. But it's um but we all do it out of love, I think. I totally agree. We have to. Yeah, absolutely. And uh I feel so proud to have this and to take this back to the team because ultimately this is um I have the most incredible team at Ridings Cafe. They absolutely deserve this. I'm so excited to take it back. And to share it because, yeah, like you say, you've won before. So I just saw the category and thought, no, well, runners up would be lovely.

SPEAKER_05 5:18

I saw the category and thought you'll definitely win because I think we've watched your cafe grow, and even before you owned it, we were just like, that is such a lovely little business. So it's really nice because we're not that far away from each other location-wise, so it's great to share. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 5:35

Well, it's great to share and support each other, isn't it? It really is in this in this world that we live in. So thank you so much. We've got the insurance the yeah, the insurance company, which is the the sponsor, which is Clark Williams. Um, sorry, sir, what's your name?

SPEAKER_01 5:46

Henry Clark.

SPEAKER_02 5:47

Henry Clark. Just a few words, Henry. Just come around on the microphone here, it'd be it'll be fine.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

Um I'll stick on this microphone, it's fine.

SPEAKER_02 5:54

Yeah, yeah, just just tell us tell us what it's like to mean to you to to it to sponsor award like this.

SPEAKER_01 5:59

Yeah, I mean, food and drink category, as Vlaise said, it is a very tough sector at the moment. Hospitality is getting hammered from every direction. There are some fantastic local businesses. So for us being able to sponsor that category and actually see some of the amazing businesses across the local area and have two winners, yeah, it just shows us that something good happening.

SPEAKER_02 6:22

I think it's great that they've decided to do two winners. I love that.

SPEAKER_05 6:25

I think there's such spirit around food and drink and hospitality because that's what brings people together in the community. And you know, a community is lost without its little hubs, yeah, and we're really proud to be a hub, you know, within communities around.

SPEAKER_02 6:41

Listen, I'll let you get on with your evening. Enjoy it now. You can relax now and have a drink and just you know party. Thank you.

SPEAKER_13 6:47

I'll see if I can get you a fan, Nick. Yes, please. Thank you. Thanks to all of you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 6:51

Thanks.

SPEAKER_13 6:51

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 6:52

So we're on the we're on the award number three now, which is the health and well-being business of the year. And I'm really pleased to be with the winners, which is Anatomy Jim's. Um, Craig Alexander? That's me. That's you, okay. I've done you. Is there three of you in the business? That's why there's three of you here, or uh with the trainers. You're okay, right, right. Well, you've got to make an evening of it. So great to see you all. How does it feel? Was this was this a bit of a surprise?

SPEAKER_06 7:16

Yeah, surprise for us. It's like like when you look at the the category, it's like yeah, huge and yeah, we're like so happy. Like we got run up last year. Did you? We went again. Yeah well done. Yeah, you gotta do it.

SPEAKER_02 7:29

I gotta give you a break the second time, right? Um, tell us a little bit about the gym. Where are you and um what sort of things do you do with that?

SPEAKER_06 7:35

We're in Tunbridge, uh, we're in the industrial state. Um, we do small group training, so all of our training is done led by a person trainer. Okay. Um, all the coaches are highly qualified, like amazing guys. Yeah. Our members like just like we have a great community, so it's like it's just a nice place to work, nice members. We it's just fun. And how long have you been going on for, Craig? So uh we've been opened as an Nature Gin for two years, but we've actually been going since like for eight years. Okay, well done.

SPEAKER_02 8:03

Lots of members.

SPEAKER_06 8:04

Lots of members, yeah. We're up to 200 members. Um I say we because it's all personal training or small group training, it's not like huge. Um you're not after those masses, it's more quality than quantity. Oh, we did community events, so we just did a charity football game.

SPEAKER_02 8:19

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 8:19

We had 200 people come down and watch. Nice, uh, did it against Chase and Connorscure, which is a local charity.

SPEAKER_02 8:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 8:25

We played them, we lost. Um doesn't matter. Doesn't matter. We raised uh just over 5,000 pounds.

SPEAKER_02 8:31

Oh well done, well done, that's great news. Um and we've also got the sponsor with us, which is Emma Coleman. Is that right? From Skin.

SPEAKER_22 8:37

I'm actually the manager of Emma Coleman Skin. She's actually not here this evening, so I'm here on behalf of the farm okay. Um so yeah, so we've literally just opened our third medical led clinic in 7X area. So we just wanted to sponsor a local area in the same industry as us, so well-being, health, fitness, etc. So it is our pleasure, you know, to get that ward this evening.

SPEAKER_02 9:01

Thank you, thank you for being involved, and well done to all three of you. You can go and enjoy your evening now, and you can party, you can have a drink, you can relax. Well, mind you, you're fitness fanatics, you probably don't drink. I don't know. Oh, you do, I'll give a few. Well, have a great evening and congratulations. Well done, nice one. Thank you. So I'm at the Tunbridge Business Awards and I'm on award number four, which is really exciting, um, which is the hair and beauty business of the year. And the winner is Concept Beauty Clinic and a couple of ladies with me. Tell us your names.

SPEAKER_14 9:29

So my name is C, and I'm one of the well-being practitioners. Okay, I'm Nooler, I'm one of the nail technicians as well.

SPEAKER_02 9:37

Nice one. So, a bit of a surprise. Did you see this coming?

SPEAKER_15 9:40

We did not see this coming, we did not see this coming at all. Um, Laura would have loved to have been here herself, but she couldn't, unfortunately. Um she's gonna be absolutely ecstatic. Oh, but it's and we're going to go and surprise her without her knowing. Oh, yeah. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 9:55

So after this, you'll pop back and go, look what we've got.

SPEAKER_15 9:57

Yes, that's exactly what we're gonna do. That's exactly what we're gonna do.

SPEAKER_02 10:00

Oh, you must be really, really proud because you obviously work your tight team. Are you all working together?

SPEAKER_15 10:04

So we're a team of 11 currently and growing.

SPEAKER_02 10:07

Nice one.

SPEAKER_15 10:08

We are doing very, very well. We are a very tight team, we talk to each other every single day, yeah, and we love what we do. Yeah, that's all.

SPEAKER_14 10:16

Like we we've banded together so well, like it's such a positive environment to be working in. Yeah, and our clients just make it so extra special, they make it worthwhile, they so do. Like, we we do this job because we love it, we love making sure that people feel good about themselves when they go to leave. Yeah, that's our main thing is that everyone feels pretty and and respected when they go.

SPEAKER_02 10:44

Yeah, that's what sort of paints lots of pictures, isn't it? Realising you're doing a good job when you see their faces and tell you how happy they are.

SPEAKER_15 10:50

Laura built concept on the foundation of best quality, yeah, best care, yeah, because aesthetics isn't for everybody, but it's important to some people, and we will always provide. She's worked very, very hard, she works every hour, God sends. She's now a level seven practitioner, right? So she's doing amazingly well.

SPEAKER_02 11:12

Um so Lorna, what's her name?

SPEAKER_15 11:14

Laura Wood.

SPEAKER_02 11:15

Sorry, Laura Wood, right? Okay, shout out to Laura Wood. Congratulations, Laura. Sounds like you've done a great job.

SPEAKER_14 11:20

She has, and she is an incredible person to work for as well.

SPEAKER_15 11:24

She is. We are so proud of her, and she doesn't realise how proud we are.

SPEAKER_14 11:29

She has built something out of absolutely nothing, and it's been incredible to not only watch her through this journey, but also be a part of this journey with her.

SPEAKER_15 11:39

This is 20 plus years in the making, and look at what she has achieved. She has done it.

SPEAKER_14 11:44

Incredible, right? There isn't anything she can't.

SPEAKER_02 11:47

I wish I could be there to see her face when you show that award. Now, listen, we've also got with us uh Matt Borton from um Tumbridge Mall Environment Council who just wants to say a few words because you've supported this award.

SPEAKER_12 11:58

We have, and it's been a delight to um to support the award. Obviously, I have absolutely no expertise in all these little, but that's now going to uh change. Yes, of course. In all seriousness, this is all about um the work that 11 people do um in a really tight-knit business, as we've just heard, with an inspirational leader and recognizing that's in our community, and there are so many businesses like this, but there's something special, and that's why they're the award winners tonight. So, congratulations. Thank you, Eva. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_15 12:28

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_02 12:29

Congratulations, guys. Have a great evening. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_11 12:33

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 12:36

So we're racing through the awards here. Uh, we're on award number five, and I'm really pleased to be with the creative business of the year, which is Kensington Scott Interiors and Jamie Count. Jamie, how are you?

SPEAKER_24 12:46

I'm very well, how are you?

SPEAKER_02 12:47

I'm alright, how'd you feel?

SPEAKER_24 12:48

Yeah, no, I'm really um happy, delighted. Irina who's not on not on the mic, um, deserves it. She's our content creator. Right, okay. Um briefly said some words come over from Ukraine, single um mum with her daughter, just resilient, puts so much hard work in. Um, so I'm very proud of her.

SPEAKER_02 13:06

It makes a big difference, doesn't it? How you're seen online and how other people see you and perceive you, uh, a difference to your business and the quality of your business. So, yeah, she's done a really good job. Well done. Yeah, very well done. Uh Jamie, tell us a little bit about Kensington Scott Interiors um and how long you've been going, that sort of stuff.

SPEAKER_24 13:22

Yeah, so we've been in Tunbridge since 2010, um, from when my dad set it up again, sort of on the tools, doing the designs, and then really pushed on the last sort of five years. Um, arena's been about 18 months and really trying to get that image of the process of of building and kitchens and furniture and things, um, and just trying to be more in touch with the with the public, the people that you're serving.

SPEAKER_02 13:45

Yeah, yeah, no, I love that. Um, I've interviewed you before, haven't I? And um, I know how hard you work. So this award must be it's very well deserved. So well done, congratulations. We've got the uh the sponsor with us as well, Stagbrook. Is that right?

SPEAKER_23 13:58

That's right.

SPEAKER_02 13:59

Just a few words from you, sir, about what is what why you sponsored this award and why you wanted to get involved.

SPEAKER_23 14:04

Yeah, so we're um first time we've uh we've we've sponsored anyone this year.

SPEAKER_02 14:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_23 14:09

Um yeah, it's just been a great opportunity to work with some fantastic local businesses just to sort of you know celebrate the community. Yeah, what does Stegbrook do, sir? So we're um a construction firm, right doing uh remodelling, renovations, nice uh joinery. So we kind of cover the Seven Oaks Tunbridge, Tunbridge Wells corridor, if you like, and a little bit um further out than that. Um but yeah, it really wanted to just celebrate local businesses, yeah, yeah. And you know, just come together. Yeah, these uh these opportunities to sponsor don't come around very often. No, so we've uh we've snapped it up. Well done. And um, yeah, uh a very valiant winner. Yeah, what's your name, sir? It's Andy.

SPEAKER_02 14:53

Andy well, Andy, thank you for sponsoring um Jamie. Well done for winning. And um you can enjoy your evening now. Thank you very much. Get out of this sauna. Yes, thank you. Thanks, guys, cheers. Well done. Wow, Samuel's Business Awards, award number six, uh, retail business of the year, which is the barbecue hub, and I'm with Ben Beattie, who is the owner of the barbecue cub, I believe. Is it right? Yeah, yeah. How are you, mate? I'm very good. How are you? Yeah, I'm alright, how does it feel? Yeah, yeah, amazing.

SPEAKER_27 15:21

Did you see this coming? Or no, I can't say yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:25

Yeah, yeah. I knew I was good at it. I know I'm good. But what a great feeling, I guess, once they once they said your name.

SPEAKER_27 15:32

Yeah, amazing feeling for a new business. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:35

Yeah. Um, just give us a little bit of background about the business, how long you've been going?

SPEAKER_27 15:39

Uh so about two years now. We're primarily a barbecue shop, but we offer everything from classes to barbecue maintenance to we've even got a 12-seater private subclub. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:51

I've got some of your rub. I'm sure I have, and I use that on. Oh, you aren't no, I haven't. It's a seasoning rub, isn't it? I put on mistakes, it's beautiful. So well done. And congratulations for this award. You must be really, really pleased. Thank you very much. Um that's good. And we've got also got the the sponsors with us, which is DMD restaurants, um, two ladies with me. Tell us your names. Come round to the microphone if you can, thank you.

SPEAKER_03 16:15

Hello, my name's Steph.

SPEAKER_02 16:16

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 16:17

Hello, I'm Lauren.

SPEAKER_02 16:18

Okay. Tell us a bit about DMD restaurants. What where are you? What what what food do you do? In this hot house?

SPEAKER_03 16:26

Um, so we are actually a McDonald's franchise.

SPEAKER_02 16:29

Okay, alright. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:30

So we have three stores, two based in London, and then the one in Tunbridge. Yes. Um, so I'm the business manager of the Tunbridge branch. Great. Um, so we are a large business, we have around 155 employees.

SPEAKER_02 16:42

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:43

Um, and I'd say we're quite at the centre of the community.

SPEAKER_02 16:46

You are. Love a McDonald's.

SPEAKER_03 16:47

Everyone loves a McDonald's, never goes out of style.

SPEAKER_02 16:50

No, not at all, not at all. Well, it must be really important for you to sponsor a local business like this, especially similar sort of category, same food, same sort of thing, isn't it? Um so I'm gonna say congratulations again, and I'll let you get back to your evening, Ben. Um, you've done really well. I'm really proud of you. Well done. Thank you. And thank you to the MD for sponsoring.

SPEAKER_27 17:08

Cheers. Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_02 17:10

So we're uh with the with the winner number a seven for the all from the awards, and it's the micro business of the year. And this loaf story, Helene, Helene Lowe?

SPEAKER_08 17:19

Yes, Helen.

SPEAKER_02 17:20

Helen, sorry, how are you feeling?

SPEAKER_08 17:22

Um, I can't believe it. Yeah, yes, and a bit of a surprise. Um, as in a good surprise. I am very, very grateful that all the effort I've put in the last year have been recognized. Grateful for the Tombridge community and all the mentors I've met on the way who might not consider themselves mentors but have hugely helped on the journey.

SPEAKER_02 17:46

And good people around you makes a big difference, isn't it? Tell us a little bit about Love Story and what they do. Because I don't know what you do, sorry.

SPEAKER_08 17:52

So I do um French pastries and uh sourdough. Yes, you do, I think.

SPEAKER_02 17:58

I know it's just come back to me because I've got to be a little bit more. I have your food, sorry, yeah. I'm sorry. It is it's a it's totally fine.

SPEAKER_08 18:06

Um I thought it was for the audience or something.

SPEAKER_02 18:09

I just can't remember everything, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_08 18:11

It's totally fine. But yeah, I um I try to put some inspiration from my heritage, which is both French and Southeast Asian. Um, and so I create fusion bakes inspired by both.

SPEAKER_02 18:25

Well, it's it's delicious if I remember rightly. I do remember and I do remember commenting on the time when I was eating it saying this is lovely. Now we've also got the sponsors with us, which is Get Ahead VA, and I've got Hazel with me, Hazel Hall, and also Rebecca as well. Um, Hazel, do you want to say a few words about why this is important to you to sponsor an award like this?

SPEAKER_10 18:42

The sponsoring award is is amazing because obviously the local businesses are great and we want to recognise everybody. Uh, sponsoring this business and Helene wonning it is absolutely fantastic.

SPEAKER_11 18:52

Yes.

SPEAKER_10 18:52

First met her at the West Kent Business Show when she was coming around with her croissants, and I said to her, Come along to Metro Bank and the rest is history, should I say. And yeah, I know it's just there's so many good businesses in the room though, you just can't pick them all out. I think you know.

SPEAKER_02 19:06

Yeah, yeah. I I I I think it's really nice as well when when young businesses get recognized like yours, um, which have just been born out of a love and a passion, um, which is really, really important. So you've done really well.

SPEAKER_08 19:16

That's exactly that. I think I can't believe the fact that I was competing against big names that I've known before I launched a business and I was looking up to them and now being just sitting next to them in the same room. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_10 19:29

Helen's got a get up early in the morning, she's got children to, you know, look after as well, and make and making all these buns and everything.

SPEAKER_02 19:36

Even more well deserved.

SPEAKER_10 19:38

And she was up this morning doing it for us.

SPEAKER_02 19:39

Yeah, yes, at Metro Bank. Yeah, it doesn't stop, does it? No, it doesn't stop. It didn't. Well, listen, congratulations. Thank you. Yeah, I'm really pleased for you, and I hope you have a wonderful evening. I'm sure you will do now, and to you to you, Hazel, and to you, Rebecca.

SPEAKER_11 19:52

Thank you. See you, thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 19:55

So, we are with the winner of the Small Business of the Year Award, which is Town's Bathrooms, and I'm with Alex Town. Alex, congratulations. Thank you very much. How's it feel?

SPEAKER_28 20:06

Uh it's really weird, yeah. Um I didn't think I was in with a chance. Um went through it all, and it's yeah, just amazing. I'm I'm speechless. Well done, congratulations.

SPEAKER_02 20:17

Tell us a little bit about Towns Bathrooms. Um my name's on the tin, I guess, but a little bit more than that, perhaps.

SPEAKER_28 20:23

Yeah, no, so um we're technically a family business now. I've just employed my sister. All right. Um nobody else would have her. Um we've been going for about 15 years. Um we're just we've got a little plumbers merchant, we've got a bathroom showroom, and we just pride ourselves on our service, really. And yeah, hence being here tonight, really. It's just yeah, we just want to keep it nice and local, support the community, and yeah, yeah. Support local people and local businesses as well. And how long you've been going for? 15 years now. Nice. Yeah, same age as my son. All right. So yeah, that was a stressful year, but um worth every minute. So you started the business, did you? Yeah, yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_02 20:58

Hence the name. Right. Yeah, okay. Yeah. It's been hard at the start to get through, right?

SPEAKER_28 21:03

It's it's been fun. Yes. Uh it's been stressful. Yeah. Um, I'm technically in the body of a 70-year-old now, but um best thing I've ever done. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 21:10

Best thing I've ever done. Yeah, we're loving starting the business and making it go through those years. I mean, a lot of people don't make it past 15 minutes, let alone 15 years. So you've done incredibly well. Thank you. Yeah, yeah. We've also got the sponsors with us here. Um, we've got Berian Lambert's, um, Paul Reeder. Paul's running over. Uh, just uh just a couple of words, Paul, about why it's important to you to sponsor this award.

SPEAKER_26 21:30

Oh, it's just um as I said on the stage, um, I started my career over in Tunbridge and working with all the wonderful individuals and businesses in the Tunbridge area. So um it's very close to our heart as a firm, being a local community firm, um, and supporting small businesses. I I've seen with lots of clients how difficult it is for small businesses to to make it work and and have that continuity and carrying on. Um so it's just great to be involved in supporting that. Really strong alliance for you, isn't it? Really important.

SPEAKER_02 22:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, listen, both of you get back to your evenings, have a lovely evening. Congratulations, Alex. Really well deserved. Great to talk to you both. Thank you. Cheers.

SPEAKER_28 22:08

Cheers, me.

SPEAKER_02 22:09

Okay, so I'm at the Tunbridge Business Awards, and I'm with the Large Business of the Year winner. Uh, and I'm really pleased that that's Active Digital AI, and I'm with Joe Wimble Gross. Hello, hi Nick. How does it feel?

SPEAKER_21 22:20

Oh, we are so excited. Yes. Such a lovely surprise. I can honestly say, Nick, that the finalist list was a tough category. Yeah. Really, really tough. And I've got a lot of respect for the finalists as well. Yes, of course. So I think if you come and just have a nice glass of Merriworth, come with no expectation and just enjoy the evening. But to win, oh, the girls here were just ecstatic.

SPEAKER_02 22:40

I mean, every five minutes I'm hearing screams because everybody's going, yeah, yeah, yeah. So it must have been lots of screams when you won.

SPEAKER_21 22:46

And I brought my mum tonight, which I just think is really special because she's been a massive ambassador for me and my brother over the whole time we've worked together.

SPEAKER_02 22:53

Because it's let's run back a little bit, because it's been you and your brother that started it what how long ago? 30 years ago.

SPEAKER_21 22:59

Having our 30 year anniversary this year. So it's a really special year, and that's why I wanted to enter the Tunbridge Business Award, and I've got massive respect for Jess and the stuff that she does to support business. So for us, it gives us an opportunity to put real, you know, really put our name on Tunbridge. Because even after three decades, you'd think that people know us. Yeah. But a lot of people don't.

SPEAKER_24 23:17

That's crazy.

SPEAKER_21 23:18

So yeah, tonight's a really great opportunity for people to go, oh, large business of the year, who's that Active Digital? And now they get to know us and hopefully get in touch and we can do business together.

SPEAKER_02 23:27

That's what it's all about. That's what it's all about. Now you've got two lovely ladies with you, um, Charlotte and Karen. Charlotte, what do you do? Tell us a little bit about why you're involved in the business.

SPEAKER_19 23:37

Um, well, I've I've worked for them for quite a long time, um, and I'm now an account manager again, looking after some amazing customers. Lovely. One of who I'm talking to at the moment. It's a small world. Um, but it's lovely. It's I mean, I I I've loved the job. You get to be a relationship with your customers and you want to do the best you can for the customers, is what I love about it. Yeah. And you know that the team that works active allows you to do that. Um because it's not just me doing it, you've got the accounts, support. How many of them are you?

SPEAKER_21 24:03

Did you say about yeah, 26 we're recruiting at the moment, so I think we'll be up to 30 people soon. Yeah, right. It's brilliant.

SPEAKER_02 24:09

Yeah, yeah, that's just that says a lot. Um, and because staff retention is quite tough as well. There's a whole new topic which we won't go into now. Um, this award was sponsored by HR Department West Kent. Um, Sandira is not here, but I'm sure I can talk to her later. But listen, congratulations to you all. It's lovely to see you, Joe and to meet you, Charlotte, because we've spoken on the phone so many times. I do, yes. And um, I'm really pleased that you've won this award. So um have a great evening.

SPEAKER_21 24:30

Thank you, Nick. Really appreciate it. Yeah, absolutely fantastic. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 24:34

Yeah, so uh we're with the we were with the business person of the year. Uh Simon was just I'm with Simon Wellem from Wellham Jones Funerals and Memorials. I just said that to Simon. He said, I can't believe it. And I said, Well, you should believe it.

SPEAKER_29 24:47

Well, no, it's obviously going to sink in later, but it is really surprised. I mean, totally, you know, just gobsmacked, I think, won awards before, have you? Yeah, for the business. But which I know obviously if you're you know, if it is your business, it's it's your award to an extent. But to be recognised as the individual. As the individual as the name behind the business, or in front of the business in many senses, yeah, it's a different uh it's a different feeling.

SPEAKER_02 25:11

Yeah. How long have you been in business with that firm?

SPEAKER_29 25:15

We started it in 92, 1992. So we're 34 years in. Um we started in Seven Oaks and we've grown it organically since. And you know, we've now got um we've got seven offices um really down the A20, A21 corridor. Yeah. So from Tonbridge Wells up towards South East London, Chiselhurst.

SPEAKER_02 25:37

That's um in Sevenoaks, you're on the bottom of St. Botolf's Road, aren't you? Yeah, yeah. Where you've always been. Yeah. That's where you started. That's the first one, yeah. We've been there since '92.

SPEAKER_29 25:46

The old French's dairy for those that remember. Well I do remember.

SPEAKER_02 25:48

I worked in Sevenoaks in the late 80s and early 90s, and I remember that. That's right. And I remember you coming in there. Yeah. Well, what that's a great that's a great spot. Um, how many staff have you got then?

SPEAKER_29 25:57

Um We got 13 full-timers and then we've got casuals and uh part-timers taking the total to about 20, 22 now.

SPEAKER_02 26:05

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're a big networker in the in the area as well, aren't you? I see you out and about. You think that's important for you to be amongst the Tunbridge business community and and the local areas?

SPEAKER_29 26:14

Well, the business is the community, isn't it? Yes. Um particularly f you know in the funerals uh side of things, you know, you need to be part of the community. You I think you need to be seen there. I think you know I encourage the staff to do it, and as you know, I do it, so you've got you lead from the front. But I think it's important if people want to trust the funeral director, they need to know who the individuals are. Absolutely, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:36

You know, it's it's a personal thing, isn't it? It is very personal, yeah. You have to be very very trusted. Um we've got the sponsor of the award here, uh Gemma Farina from GFHR Consulting, who I've spoken to many times at these awards and on my podcast. Gemma, it's important for you to sponsor an award like this, isn't it?

SPEAKER_18 26:52

Yeah, I love taking part in these awards because um it's really important to show our support for the community. Um, as I said on stage, Malcolm talked about people and values, and those things are inherent to everything that we do within HR and within our world, within our business. Um, and to be able to sponsor award like Business Person of the Year and recognise many people we were just talking outside as we were waiting to come in about you know the the stuff that people don't see, the the grit, the determination, the cancelled holidays, the late nights that it takes to to run a business. And I think recognition for that is actually so important and and um great to be able to support.

SPEAKER_02 27:32

Yeah, you spoke some really true words there, Gemma. I I I I agree with all of that. There's there's you could add a lot more to it as well. Good, I can keep going, but I've got other people. Going into your savings account, all that sort of stuff. Exactly. But um, listen, uh Simon, congratulations. It's really well deserved. You know, and I I know you and I know your business, and uh, you're a very well respected man in the community, so well done. Congratulations. Appreciate it, Nate. Thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_18 27:53

Thanks, Nate. Thanks.

SPEAKER_02 27:55

The lady just sat down and um so it's very low on the sort. They're on the very on they thought they're on a very low sofa over there. Um I'm really pleased to be with the winner of the Businesswoman of the Year. Really massive award. I think this is a new award that they've introduced as well. And I'm with Dr. Iram Sheikh, who is from Andrew House Dental Practice.

SPEAKER_16 28:11

That's right.

SPEAKER_02 28:12

Congratulations.

SPEAKER_16 28:13

Thank you. Uh utterly surprised. Are you utterly totally surprised? Dentistry doesn't get awards for anything nice. It's quite a hard sell.

SPEAKER_11 28:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_16 28:23

Um, it's not somewhere people like to think about other than the few minutes that they're just about to go in, uh, and then all they want to do is leave. So for us to promote our businesses anything in a positive way is always a real challenge for us. And actually to run a clinical um environment, a clinical business in a way that is um growing, is welcoming, is personal. That's been my goal. And I'm so delighted that we feel like we're getting somewhere. It's really nice.

SPEAKER_02 29:02

How long has it been going for?

SPEAKER_16 29:03

The actual the business has been the practice has been in Tunbridge since 1953.

SPEAKER_02 29:08

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_16 29:08

A long time. Um so the building is beautiful, it's very old, historic. Um, I joined the practice in 95. It was only ever my first job after I qualified um from Cardiff. Yeah. Um, so it was my first job as a grown-up, and I haven't moved. I've not moved. So there I've been.

SPEAKER_02 29:26

Is there a big team?

SPEAKER_16 29:27

Um there we are, I would say, a pretty small team. There's 15 of us all together, six clinicians, and the rest of us are support staff.

SPEAKER_11 29:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_16 29:36

Um, and I love it that it's that small because we all know each other really well. I am really happy to be um leading it as a woman because I think it brings a different flavour. My goal for my ladies who come to us really is that they they leave us for whatever reason they leave us, but feeling empowered, yeah, having grown, a lot of our ladies that come to work for for us have not excelled academically, so they go into a more practical role, yeah. And so they don't necessarily have the confidence that academic excellence can give you. And so to see them grow in our nurturing, caring community of our practice is so rewarding. And that's what I wanted to have at the heart of my business, really, is that we don't just fix teeth, we actually treat people and we grow our team to a point where they're achieving things that they actually didn't think they had inside them. It's lovely.

SPEAKER_02 30:40

Yeah, that's really cool. And it must be a bit of a community thing as well. People in Tunbridge, you know, they get to know you, they're all going to come to you for their teeth, right? For sure, for sure.

SPEAKER_16 30:47

And we're involved with a lot of the stuff in the community. Yeah. Um, we send our girls to the schools like Hillview and um Jard the boys' schools, also just to give an uh a bit of an indication as to what what our career is. Yeah. As I say, people don't like to think about dentistry, so they don't think about what's available within that field as well. So getting our us into the community and giving something back's been huge for us.

SPEAKER_02 31:15

And do you, as the leader of the business, do you also do you you you you're doing dentistry as well? You're you've got your hands in people's mouths as well, you know.

SPEAKER_16 31:21

I'm I'm clinically hands-on and I love my clinical work. It's the thing that that's what I train to do. Of course, yeah. And um, and I feel really privileged to be able to see the same faces generation upon generation. I mean, yes, it tells me how many decades I've been there and I'm not getting any other.

SPEAKER_02 31:42

But it shows they put their trust in you as well, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_16 31:44

Which is But it's all about trust, isn't it? There are there are a few relationships I think we have in our wider lives that rely on trust more than anything else. Yeah. And I think in a thing, something like dentistry, where you're totally vulnerable, it's it's you're out of your comfort zone. Trust is everything. So yeah, we we I hope we give that to our patients. I feel we do.

SPEAKER_02 32:08

Yeah, you're obviously doing a great job. Now, we've got the sponsor of the award here as well, which is Dee Airy. Hey Dee, how are we good to see you again?

SPEAKER_11 32:15

Good to see you.

SPEAKER_02 32:18

Tell us why you've why you've sponsored this award, why it's important to you.

SPEAKER_09 32:22

Um it's very close to my heart because um I've been a woman in business 33 years now, so that tells all my decades. Um and when I started, it there really wasn't such a thing as as women just getting up and doing it for themselves. So coming through the years, like especially the last five to ten years, women really are taking charge of their careers and and that that whole journey, and I'm really proud of it. And I've I've won such an award myself, amongst other awards. Um so when I saw this one was up for grabs, I thought I'm having that one.

SPEAKER_02 33:01

You take that one, yeah.

SPEAKER_09 33:02

And and and it's in my hometown as well. I've not done any award work in Tunbridge, and I've been here for nearly 14 years. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, but this award, I mean, I've only just met you, but I think it's wonderful that dentistry has been recognised as a business rather than something that you go to because you have to, yeah, kind of thing.

SPEAKER_02 33:21

Um wonderful. Well, they're all really good reasons. Um, so thank you to Dee for sponsoring it, and well done to you, Dr. Iman, for winning it. Congratulations. Have a really nice evening. Enjoy the rest of it. Thank you. Cheers. Bye bye. Right, we're now with a winner of a really, really important award, which is the Changemaker Award. And the winner is Charity Bank, and I'm with Carolyn. Sorry, Carolyn, what's your sounding?

SPEAKER_20 33:44

Sims.

SPEAKER_02 33:44

Carolyn Sims. Carolyn, congratulations.

SPEAKER_20 33:47

Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_02 33:48

How does it feel? How are you feeling? Excited.

SPEAKER_20 33:50

It it feels absolutely great, but I would say that I'm accepting this on behalf of every single one of my colleagues. I'm the lucky one at the bank, so I'm the director of impact lending. I'm the one that gets out on the road. I see organisations doing great work, I agree to lend them shed loads of money. But behind that, there is a whole team of people that do all the hard work, and this award is as much for them as it is for anybody.

SPEAKER_02 34:11

So, how many people are on that team?

SPEAKER_20 34:13

About there's about a hundred in the bank in total.

SPEAKER_02 34:16

Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_20 34:16

So when I joined 20 odd years ago, there were, I think, 12 or 13 of us, and we've grown exponentially. So there's now about a hundred of us in total.

SPEAKER_02 34:24

Well done. That's a really big team. Can you just give us a bit of a background about Charity Bank? I know it probably spoke to itself, but just tell us a little bit about it.

SPEAKER_20 34:31

Okay, so Charity Bank was set up originally to support um charities and not-for-profit organisations that couldn't borrow elsewhere, or they couldn't borrow on fair and affordable terms. And it was it was a pilot project to start with, it was quite successful, and then we were launched in the early 2000s as a fully authorised and regulated bank.

SPEAKER_16 34:50

Okay.

SPEAKER_20 34:51

Um charities proved to be very good borrowers. The recession in 2007-8 was a turning point for us because we found mid-sized charities and some of the larger ones wanted to borrow from us because high street banks in a recession don't tend to want to lend. And we were a bank that wanted to lend. And so that really was a turning point for the bank. And now all sorts of charities, not-for-profits, and in fact, some full-for-profit organisations come to us, they want to borrow from us because they like our ethos, we connect organisations. For us, it's about doing the right thing. So it's not so much now about the legal structure, it's about what people want to do with our money. It's got to be for good cause, for good purpose. Yeah, and that's what motivates and drives us, our shareholders, and our savers, our depositors.

SPEAKER_02 35:37

Yeah, you need that ethos, I guess, because you've got to lend it for the right reasons, haven't you?

SPEAKER_20 35:41

We have.

SPEAKER_02 35:42

Yeah, you can't just lend it, give it out willy-nilly, as they say.

SPEAKER_20 35:44

Well, no, that's and that's why people trust us with their money, because they know it's very transparent what we do with savers money. We put it to good use. We only fund organisations delivering social change, social impact.

SPEAKER_02 35:56

Carolyn, how long have you worked for them?

SPEAKER_20 35:58

I've worked there nearly 21 years. Oh, do you? Right. Part of the Yeah, I've I've I'm one of the long-standing. To be honest, they're a great employer. People don't tend to leave, people join charity bank. I mean, a few do leave, but we're very good. We adopted the four-day working week where people retain their salary but they just work more productively and get a day off. You know, it's a great place to work and it's doing great things.

SPEAKER_02 36:20

Yeah, it's going to be very pleasurable for you going back to the office and handing and showing them the award, isn't it? It is, it is. Um, now we've got the sponsor of this award here, Dawn Believe, who is the CEO of 7H District Chamber of Commerce. Dawn, how are you?

SPEAKER_17 36:32

Very well indeed. Delighted to be here.

SPEAKER_02 36:34

Yeah, I I think you sponsored this award last year, didn't you? We did indeed. Just recap on why it's important for you to do that.

SPEAKER_17 36:41

It's it's important because it is possible for businesses to uh chug along nose to the grindstone and not cut and to ignore change or to put it off as long as possible. But many of the awards tonight have been about the change, and there will be a change maker in every single one of those awards-winning teams anyway. And if we can start to try and distill what it is that makes a change breaker, because a change maker, because it's not easy, um, it requires putting head above the parapet, it requires energy, drive, determination, bravery, as somebody mentioned earlier this evening.

SPEAKER_11 37:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_17 37:17

All important things to push uh other people to be able to to their full potential and create something slightly different that the market wants.

SPEAKER_02 37:26

Yeah, I love that. You explained that really well, really, really well. That's what what we need. Um sometimes people are afraid of change, and change is good sometimes, and you it takes a lot of guts to to make some changes. So, yeah, congratulations. And what so congratulations to you, Carolyn and Charity Bank. And uh, thank you very much. Um I'm really pleased you've you've won this because you sound like it's really well deserved.

SPEAKER_20 37:44

It's it's a it's a great organisation delivering. I mean, we're changing ourselves, we're on a journey at the moment, we're on a process improvement journey. We've got to implement a new banking system, unfortunately, which is huge change. Yeah, but we are on a journey of change, but we're also helping organisations change as well. I think a lot of charities recognise they can't stand still anymore. Yeah, you know, funding's drying up, they've got to change, they've got to look at different ways of doing things, and so we're helping them as well on their journey, not only on our journey of change.

SPEAKER_02 38:13

Yeah, it's excellent. I'm gonna let you enjoy your evening, Carolyn. Thank you very much, and thank you for having me. Congratulations, yeah. Thank you, Dawn. Congratulations. Have a great evening.

SPEAKER_18 38:20

Thank you, Luke.

SPEAKER_02 38:22

So we're towards the end of the awards ceremony now, and it's been so so fabulous to talk to all the people. So I'm actually really pleased to be now having a little chat with the headline sponsor, Malcolm Clark from Baxel Construction. He's actually the chairman of Baxel Construction. Malcolm, how are you? Uh well, yes, slightly warm, but well. Your opening speech was quite good about um yeah, uh uh what not offering everyone a warm welcome because it was warm enough as it is. Um now, headline sponsor, that's quite something. Um, it's obviously really important to you to support local businesses. Just give us a bit of background about why you've done that.

SPEAKER_25 38:55

Well, we're we're so intrinsic in Tunbridge. We're based uh in the area. Uh we built the AM Forster Theatre and a lot of the buildings in Tunbridge School were one of our long-term clients. But uh we we uh we employ people in Tunbridge at Tunbridge. We ev everything about us has got Tunbridge written in our address and and so on. So it's it's it is really uh nice for us to be seen to be part of that community. And I I'm proud of the fact that we've now been recognised as a significant employer and business conversations we're having with local authorities and other clients, they're all recognizing us for that. And that that's it's a nice thing to have. It goes back to what I said in my speech earlier about developing values and and and taking people on the journey and being part of it. And we we certainly feel part of Tunbridge. Yeah. You said earlier now, wasn't it? There's six thousand businesses in Tunbridge?

SPEAKER_02 39:50

Did you think that's a good one? Something like that. No, it wasn't me, one of the others. Yeah. Um and and they're quality businesses. They're a lot really some really good businesses in here, isn't there?

SPEAKER_25 40:00

It's the first time I got involved involved in doing the judging because as a as a headline sponsor we were asked to do it. And I and actually it was really tough. It was it was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. And it was because of the quality of the businesses. And I think there's there are some that have got real potential to develop and become bigger and and and and successful um as a result.

SPEAKER_02 40:22

Yeah, yeah. Backs of construction, you uh as a brand, um, you you do so well with making everyone aware of who you are and what you do because your brand is on a lot of stuff um locally and in the areas with sponsorships and things like these. Um is that something that you've driven, um, people around you driven? Because you've got a big team, haven't you?

SPEAKER_25 40:41

We have. I mean, but uh yes, it is something it uh we've become known because we are local, but but for us, um marketing is all about being seen. Um it's not about cold calling and and and trying to get um projects off the planning pipe and all that sort of stuff. It actually the best thing is for people to know us and see the buildings that we build, um see the story behind the people. So whether it's apprentices joining us or open days that we're doing or directors being appointed that started with us as as apprentices, and uh all of that is just part of a a picture that um really we're proud of, but actually creates uh a really good brand and people recognise that and uh it it's it it's a throwaway line, but uh we we want to be the best at what we do, and uh I'm now told that we are when it's nice for other people, including our competitors, to tell us that.

SPEAKER_02 41:42

Yeah, I it's it's a really sort of cool statement to make when you're on a podium like you were in a theatre that's as beautiful as this at a school that's as amazing as this, and saying, we built this.

SPEAKER_25 41:54

By the science centre that we're just standing next to there, this building, the uh we're we're just starting another one on the reception um yeah, and and we'll also be helping them with their um their new um uh co-ed uh piece that they're about to go into in 28. Nice, nice. Yeah, well good stuff.

SPEAKER_02 42:13

You you probably want to get on with your evening. It's really hot here. It's really hot here, isn't it?

SPEAKER_25 42:17

No, no problem, no problem.

SPEAKER_02 42:18

It's been lovely to talk to you as always, and um just just thank you for all the work you do for local businesses and and everything that you do putting into the local community and um banks were a really big part of that. So I'm really proud to work with you sometime. So thank you. Thank you for being a headline sponsor. Thank you. Cheers, cheers. Okay, so we're at the end of the evening. My god, the Tunbridge Business Awards 2026, it's a wrap.

SPEAKER_04 42:42

Nick, what a night! Thank you so much for doing the podcast. I can't wait to listen to it, and uh yeah, it's just been a really, really wonderful time celebrating some incredible businesses and uh just the the breadth of the businesses that have wine and being recognised this evening from kitchen table businesses right up into large corporates like Charity Bank, it's just been such a wonderful reminder of all that's going on in this town.

SPEAKER_02 43:08

Yeah, and you've put a new ward in there, haven't you? Businesswoman of the year, which was really nice.

SPEAKER_04 43:12

Thank you to D Ari for hosting it. It's and um yeah, one of our, as I said at the at the beginning, it's just one of our most uh hotly entered categories. It's just been really wonderful this evening, and um looking at hosting and looking out across that room, just a pack theatre full of really inspiring business people. It's a real privilege to be able to host these awards and it's just been really very fun. Thank you very much for hosting the podcast. And how's it been with the interviews? Have people been delighted?

SPEAKER_02 43:39

It's it's been as usual, really um it made it makes it a happy evening for me because everyone is so chuffed. And every five minutes we hear cheering and shouting the auditorium from behind us, and um yeah, and the sponsors as well, and the people that have been involved, new people that weren't involved last year, new businesses, two one category with two businesses winning one category, which was new, which was really cool. Because there were two restaurant businesses and they're gonna be able to do that.

SPEAKER_04 44:10

It was just so difficult. And we spoke at length about these two entries and who should take the winning slot. And you know, sometimes they're two very different businesses, but superb in their own right and with a compelling to story to tell, and both deserving winners, so why not?

SPEAKER_02 44:27

Yeah, why not indeed? And then then micro well, I really like micro business of the year award as well. Um, because I've I've eaten her.

SPEAKER_04 44:33

Well, I was gonna say, is this because you've been eating Helen's cinnamon nuts?

SPEAKER_02 44:37

Yes, but I forgot that I had, and I said to her, Tell me about it. She said, You've eaten it. I went, Oh yes, I'm sorry, I forgot. So yeah, that's quite good as well.

SPEAKER_04 44:43

So, and she was I mean, that's what's so lovely, isn't it? People just don't expect their name to be called forward. So there's just I mean, I uh think about Town's bathrooms, Alex Town. He has an incredible business in the heart of the town, selling bathrooms and an independent where he has so many, so much competition locally, and he would never have thought he'd be recognised. And and he entered saying, Oh, this isn't gonna go anywhere, but here's my submission, and it was just the most compelling of them all.

SPEAKER_02 45:14

So he was so humble, so humble, which was really nice to hear.

SPEAKER_04 45:17

Yeah, and hopefully, you know, the the what people will say, Well, why should I enter an awards? And it's such wonderful marketing and exposure, and and you're in front of an audience, so you'd never get across normally. So it's just wonderful to be able to tell stories, and it's that's why it's wonderful to have brilliant businesses recording a podcast at these awards because you're all about telling stories of brilliant businesses, and that's what I'm about too. So, Nick, it's uh such a pleasure to work with you and partner with you, and uh thank you very much for for doing this podcast.

SPEAKER_02 45:47

My pleasure. Have a great evening. Enjoy the rest of the day.

SPEAKER_04 45:50

You too. I'm off for a cinema knot.

SPEAKER_02 45:52

Yeah, I'm off for a bit.

SPEAKER_04 45:53

Take care, bye bye.