Great British Entrepreneur Awards – The Finals!

Last week I had the absolute blinkin pleasure of going down to London for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards Finals, so I thought I’d tell you all about it!

Firstly I have to point out that not only was it a huge deal to be a finalist in the start-up category for these amazing awards, but it was also a really big deal for me to just be out of the house! I’ve always loved travelling on my own – when I was 18 I went to Fiji and lived with nuns then explore four more countries on the way home. But since lockdown, and to be honest before that, since becoming a Mum it’s just not something I get to do anymore. So the chance to have 28 hours to myself exploring London with one of my favourite people on the planet (Sally Magroo – who I actually met in Fiji!) was just the best thing ever.

The awards took place on Monday 22nd Nov so that afternoon I headed down to London town via train, which I bumped to first class because, well why the heck not?! Snook in a quick meeting with Grace from The Girls’ Network (an amazing charity I volunteer for) as we were due a catch up anyway and we’ve never actually met in person before – no matter what anyone says, meeting in person is special, so we grabbed a coffee together and chatted without fear of losing internet connection or power cuts.

Then I headed over to Notting Hill to meet my friend who I was staying with, and was who was my date for the night, and we quickly got ready and heading out into London. Oh to be out in a big city again, all dressed up and surrounded by people was just magical. I’d forgotten what it felt like!

The awards was held at the beautiful Grosvenor House Hotel and brought together over 1,200 entrepreneurs from across the UK. We just missed the drinks reception but arrived in time for everyone taking their seats for the opening speeches and dinner. Me and Magroo are both vegan and I have to say the food was AMAZING! Love me some roast cauliflower!

Anyway, after dinner the awards began and they announced category by category. It was so much fun seeing people proper scream with excitement when their names got called. Alas it wasn’t my night to be named winner (massive shout out to Haystack who won the category I was in – very well deserved!), but it didn’t take anything away from the night. We headed home in a cab and drank tea and talked rubbish until 1am, something I haven’t done by choice and not due to a screaming baby in a very long time, and the next day I got to explore some more on my travels home. Including a visit to the Harry Potter shop at platform 9 3/4 of course.

Overall it was a whirlwind day that made me feel like I got some of my old self back, and remember what it felt like to be out in the world again. It felt good.

To see photo’s and some behind the scenes video’s from the event pop over to the NetKno Instagram!