All of us at Thumbsie® are thrilled to announce that Jo Bates, our founder, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
These awards celebrate the dynamic role that entrepreneurs play in the UK, and they highlight a wide range of businesses from the length and breadth of the country.
Jo has been shortlisted in the Maker and Creator of the Year category for South East England. Fingers crossed, Jo! Other categories this year include those for family businesses, sustainable entrepreneurs and startups.
The gala dinner will take place on November 20th in London, and in the meantime the panel of judges are busy sifting through the finalists and making their decisions. And what a panel it is! Judges include Cath Kidston, the iconic fashion and furnishings designer, as well as representatives from GoCompare, Hotel Chocolat, Specsavers and many more.
Speaking after the shortlist was announced, Jo said: “It is a real honour to be shortlisted for such a widely respected award. I’m proud to call myself an entrepreneur and have learnt first hand about the many highs and lows of running your own business. To be recognised in this way is truly amazing.”
Being shortlisted for a prestigious award is by no means new territory for Jo. Indeed, she – and Thumbsie® – have won multiple awards over the years. But Jo never gets complacent.
She said: “Being shortlisted for an award is always fantastic – and winning is the icing on the cake. I feel we have come a long way since I started selling Thumbsies® at my daughter’s school gates, and we keep on growing. As always, it’s the support of our thousands of lovely customers over the years that truly deserve praise. They have made Thumbsie® what it is today.”
Thumbsie® have previously won gongs at the Dental Industry Awards and the MadeForMums Awards, among others.
The Great British Business Awards are often called the “Grammys of Entrepreneurship” and typically welcome 1,500 attendees for a night of networking, celebration and recognition. The awards are widely acknowledged as being one of the centrepieces of British entrepreneurship and innovation and provide the opportunity to thank and reward entrepreneurs for the work they do for the UK economy.
And Francesca James, founder of the awards, is especially excited about this year’s crop of “exceptional” nominees. She said:
“Their achievements and dedication to their industries are truly inspiring, and we are thrilled to provide them with the recognition they deserve.”
You can read the full shortlist for the 2023 Great British Entrepreneur Awards here.
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