Maybe it is luck or maybe it is down to just sheer hard work, but our company had the fortune of winning two awards in one day recently. We were awarded Overall Winner at the Made In The Midlands (MiM) Awards in Birmingham on the 29th October and on the same day at the British Engineering Excellence Awards (BEEAs) in London, we were awarded Highly Commended as Small Business of the Year. Both awards we are extremely proud of.
We often get asked why enter these awards, what is the point? Those who run their own businesses will understand it when we say it can be a very lonely experience and most of the time you wonder how good a job you are doing especially if you try to compare yourselves to others. We are always striving to improve what we do and how we do it. We are sure all other business owners would say that it can be very stressful and it can take over your life (if you let it). Indeed, as business owners, there are many sacrifices you have to make along the way.
The point of entering awards is that if you are lucky enough to be a Finalist (which should also to be congratulated) or you win an award, you are being recognised by those who are experts in their field. They are giving you a metaphorical 'pat on the back' that sometimes we all need which then gives you that boost to carry on doing what you do. We are human after all and although not all of us want adulation, we do appreciate the acknowledgement especially by those who we may aspire to be like.
But it's not just the business owners who benefit. We share this recognition with those who work with us without whom we wouldn't be able to achieve what we do. They are also passionate about the business and strive to do a great job every single day. As Professor Morley said in his speech at the Made In The Midlands Awards, we all take that 'vow of excellence'. Although we regularly thank those that work with us as a matter of course, this is a metaphorical 'pat on the back' for them too. It has been said many times that if you look after your staff, they will look after the business and this is very true.
People are THE most important aspect to any business and any awards are as much, if not more, for them as they are for the business owners.
