Inspirational achievers from across the UK were among those celebrated at the second Business Success Recognition Awards, held in Birmingham at the weekend.

Finalists selected from hundreds of nominations assembled at The Eastside Rooms for the return of the glittering awards ceremony, hosted by award-winning MC Dave Sharpe.

Thirteen category winners from across the UK were announced, including Business Start-up, Rising Star, Business Growth, Franchisee of the Year and Team of the Year. Business of the Year was awarded to Mess Around Ltd. of Suffolk.

Judges were Ian Dickson, an international motivational speaker and award-winning business executive coach and mentor; Sam Bearfoot, the CEO Creativity Mentor to some of the most successful people in the online space and William Seymour, Earl of Yarmouth, co-owner of multi-international award-winning St Maur elderflower liqueur, handcrafted in Alcester.

The evening was organised by Stacey Calder, from Leamington Spa, the founder, leader and editor of the Business Success Network and Magazine.

Stacey said: “What an amazing night of support, fun and recognition. A huge congratulations to not just the winners, but to all the finalists in the room. It takes courage to put yourself out there and to make the finals from over 350 nominations is an incredible achievement.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the incredible team I have around me, national awards like this don’t just happen and I’m proud to use small businesses within the network to form such a great events team."

“I created these awards because every business owner has a story to share and awards are a great opportunity for business owners to create more visibility as well as gain the recognition they deserve. When you are self-employed it can be a lonely place working on your own and I’m a firm believer in finding your cheerleaders. The Business Success Recognition Awards helps you find them in abundance.”

Planning is already under way for next year’s awards for which nominations open on January 1st.

The winners:

Business of the Year - Sponsored by I Am The Queen Bee

Rachelle Hutt, Mess Around Ltd, Suffolk

Rachel, who has 11 franchises across the UK, said: "I am delighted bit it was a total shock as we were up against some very strong candidates and other amazing businesses. I am overjoyed that the judges recognised all the hard work that has been put into Mess Around over the last 12 months and this is also a reflection of the dedicated and brilliant team of franchisees that I have around me. We are now very excited to see what the next 12 months brings!"

Business Start-up of the Year - Sponsored by Danielle Hobson Coaching

Natalie Yorke-Goldney, The Trampoline Academy, Nuneaton and Warwick

Natalie said: “I was completely shocked and flattered to win the award. In retrospect, it's recognition for all the effort and love I've put into my trampoline club and everything we have achieved in two short years. I don’t do what I do to simply make money, it's for the love of the sport."

Natalie, who lives in Coventry, added: “I started with nothing, and as a single mum, I held back for years as I did not believe in myself and it all seemed impossible. During COVID I took a leap of faith, and I've never looked back. I had to knock on a lot of doors - but if you keep knocking eventually they start opening, so start knocking!”

Business Leader/Manager of the Year - Sponsored by The Activity Connector

Anna Neville, Kidslingo Ltd, Solihull

Anna said: “I am absolutely thrilled, delighted and honoured to win. To be recognised as a great leader ultimately means that you have an amazing team to lead. I’m so fortunate to have a hardworking and passionate team of franchisees and tutors who deliver Kidslingo’s French and Spanish classes to young children right across the UK. I aim to lead by example and inspire all of them to do their best.”

Against All Odds Award - Sponsored by Fiona Moon Advisory Ltd

Kelly Isles, Enchanted Tea Room, Leamington Spa

Kelly said: “I’m overjoyed to win against the odds despite everything life threw at me the last couple years at Enchanted. We’re here thriving with a business I fought so hard to save through Covid. I lost so much to that virus, my Dad and friends - it was not taking my business as well!

“I’ve always had the support of my amazing family, husband and business partner, kids and my parents as well as the most amazing team at Enchanted Tea Room. This award is for us all because we didn’t just survive, we thrived. This means so much to us to win this.”

Networker of the Year - Sponsored by 1Networking

Tracey McAtamney, Ladies First Professional Development, Balsall Common

Tracey, who has been director at Ladies First for more than six years, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be recognised as the winner of the Networker of the Year Award at the Business Success Recognition Awards.

“My own Awards Team will confirm that I am most comfortable behind the scenes of the awards celebrating the success of other businesses. It was truly an honor to be nominated, announced as a finalist and a winner! I can now fully appreciate the emotions of taking part in Awards from start to finish – I was completely out of my comfort zone!"

“The highlight for me, is to be able to promote the importance of networking. I am passionate about networking and the incredible people I meet day to day. Your network is there not just for the successes in business but also to support you and your business through those difficult times.”

Customer Service of the Year - Sponsored by Mr C’s Cleaning Services

Coversure, Leamington Spa

Director Amrit Kaylan said: “To win it was a real honour, especially having been up against some incredible businesses in the category. The award is a testament to the great work that the team here at Coversure Leamington Spa do in helping our customers old and new.”

“To be the headline sponsor of the Business Success Network Awards 2023 was a real honour for us. We put helping businesses, small and large, as the centre of our focus and the stories of success and resilience from the businesses, entrepreneurs and charities in attendance were incredibly inspiring. The event itself was excellent, the food, drink and entertainment were top class and I’m sure all of the winners, nominees and attendees had a night to remember.”

Product of the Year - Sponsored by Bright Cat Solutions

Muscle Mechanics, Bracknell

Kim Shamtally, owner of Muscle Mechanics, said: “Winning Product of the Year was simply incredible. I wanted to create something to help my son feel better but by doing so, realised the potential of helping so many others within the realms of recovery and fitness. Combining exercise with the right recovery tools can improve the experience of how the body can cope with everyday aches and pains. More importantly, it keeps my son focused on his mission to become as physically independent as possible."

“Creating Muscle Mechanics Balms is a family business where each person truly understands what it takes to become more resilient.”

Rising Star Aged 21 and Under - Sponsored by Mess Around Ltd

Pip, Rayph and Oskar Haywood, Babacorn Bricks

Becki Haywood, of Babacorn Bricks, said: “We are over the moon. Babacorn Bricks was created as a small venture to keep myself and my three beautiful boys busy whilst trying to heal and make it through each day without my husband and their dad who we sadly lost to bowel cancer when the boys were just one, four and nine."

“Not only does our monthly LEGO subscription business bring us even closer together, we have also met many hundreds of wonderful people who have changed our lives. The BSN Awards family are included and being chosen as one of their award winners for the second year running has not only given the boys and I some incredible memories, but we have also made wonderful lifelong friends."

“We are very proud winners and we know that Paul would be proud too. As always, our awards are in memory of him.”

Business Growth - Sponsored by A-Counting Genie

Rob Spence, Paragon Sales Solutions, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire

“It was a truly tough category with some excellent businesses listed for the awards and in my eyes we are all winners!"

“Since our inception, especially over the last 12-18 months, we have worked really hard as a team to grow our business and to support more and more businesses. Our motivations and ambitions as a business are more focused around our team, the clients we represent and the results we generate for them. We believe that it is these elements that have led us to grow so rapidly."

“Looking back on our journey, it has been a fast-paced five years of business. From starting the business on my own on a desk in the corner of my bedroom with just £300 to my name, we now employ nine people, occupy fantastic office space in the Leicestershire countryside and are once again pushing on for another record-breaking financial year."

“My congratulations and thanks go to everyone involved in the awards. Running a business is never easy and is full of hurdles, challenges and, at times, frustration, yet I believe these awards were able to bring together business owners and entrepreneurs from all walks of life and allowed a celebration of success, reminding us all that business is done better, together.”

Franchisee of the Year - Sponsored by The Awards Training Company

Rachel Peebles, Esterellas Brilliantes, Glasgow

Rachel said: “I was absolutely thrilled to win and so grateful to the judges for choosing me as the winner. I feel so privileged to be able to teach Spanish to hundreds of children and adults each week, and I love working with two fantastic franchises, and being part of an amazing team of language teachers who support one another. Receiving this recognition for the work I do means so much to me.”

Community of the Year - Sponsored by PonyPonyPony

Move For Wellness 21 Ltd. Based in Hertfordshire

David Baum of Move For Wellness 21 Ltd, said: “While you always hope that your name is going to be called out, it was an amazing feeling when Move For Wellness was named as the winner of Community of the Year."

“One of the reasons I wanted as many of our team with me on the stage is, while I’m the focus, it is their amazing hard work that was really being rewarded, and for that I can only be grateful and humbled the judges decided to name us as the winner.”

Team of the Year - Sponsored by BJK Entertainment

So. Social Media, Monmouth, Wales

Samuel Piqué-Perry said: "As a company which recruits specifically on culture fit and which places an immense amount of value on its teams, from onboarding right through to ongoing review, winning this award in particular, resonates with me."

“The team I have around me are exemplary people, high performing and deserving of exactly this recognition, I couldn't be more pleased for all of them and I've no doubt this award will help us bolster future recruitment efforts."

Expert of the Year - Sponsored by Forensic Minds

Tony Edwards, BITSmart Technology Ltd, Winchester

Tony said: “I’m so happy to have been even considered for an award, let alone a finalist in two and a winner as Expert. This category had the largest number of finalists and some amazing people in that list all of whom are equally deserving. I’m elated and looking forward to next year.”