Sharp Thinking makes it to the shortlist
I am delighted to be shortlisted as a finalist of the Times of Tunbridge Wells Business Awards for Entrepreneur of the year.
The awards haven’t taken place for two years due to the pandemic so it makes them even more special. The awards will take place at Salomons Estate near Tunbridge Wells on 24th March and the event is hosted than none other than Eamonn Holmes, GB News anchor and former This Morning host.
There are several categories from the best start-up and the best food and drink business, to the best family business and most resilient business. The award for entrepreneur of the year is based on the most dynamic individuals who can demonstrate significant success in growing their company.
Over 100 businesses entered the awards this year so there is steep competition with so many thriving and successful businesses in Tunbridge Wells. Sharp Thinking is honoured just to make it to the shortlist and be part of these prestigious awards. Awards are the icing of the cake and where you realise you’ve built something up to be proud of and all the hard work, and sacrifices have paid off.
A bumper year
Sharp Thinking has recently celebrated its 4th birthday. Sharp Thinking has had a bumper year after recently working with its 20th client since launch.
Last year Sharp Thinking was proud to win its first award, a national award celebrating local businesses; one of just 28 winners across the whole of the UK. The Local Business Awards is a social enterprise on a mission to celebrate the best local, ethical, and sustainable businesses in the UK.
Sharp Thinking has benefited from high growth and secured seven new clients last year. Unlike some consultancies, Sharp Thinking has based its offering around marketing strategy, thus influencing business strategy, not day-to-day execution and this became even more critical during the pandemic.
Helping clients pivot
From the moment the pandemic hit, I knew that effective marketing could make the difference between a business surviving or falling victim. Historic periods of immense upheaval – such as recessions – have shown that businesses that invest in marketing activity ultimately win out. Many needed help on how to pivot and begin their digital transformation and Sharp Thinking worked on highly rewarding and life changing projects with clients during the lockdowns.
Supporting local
My clients are small and medium-sized local businesses in Kent, with over half based in Tunbridge Wells as well as some from the surrounding counties that need strategic support but don’t have the experience or the time to commit to developing a marketing strategy. Their objectives are to generate significant growth or increase profits for the business and ensure they have the ultimate blend of marketing that delivers the highest return on investment. Much of this is based on people, processes and automation. Clients range from manufacturing and construction, to care homes and retail. All share a common theme: they are owned by leaders who are driven and passionate about their companies and achieving growth. Often well-established players, they need someone impartial to guide them with marketing. As over 20 5-star Google reviews attest, they welcome Sharp Thinking’s impartial, honest, and straightforward consultancy to drive their business forward.
Making marketing more accessible
An overarching aim for me from the very beginning is to make high quality marketing more accessible and affordable to business owners in the community of Tunbridge Wells. It is rare for SMEs to have access to such a service, but I’m hugely passionate about the strategic benefits of doing so and find ways and means on how to deliver on this. I want to wish all the businesses that have been shortlisted the very best of luck. It will certainly be a night to remember.
If you would like to learn more, read my frequently asked questions or read my client case studies.
And feel free to connect with me on Linked In.
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