I only went and won it!

When someone kindly nominated me for the Town & County Business Champion awards back in November last year, I was so chuffed that someone had taken their time to think I was worthy of recognition. Back then, I’d had to close my skin care clinic doors again for Lockdown 2. It certainly had been a pretty tough year, so just being nominated felt like a ray of sunshine. I had no idea that a few months later I would be selected as the winner!

In March I found out I had been chosen as a finalist. Given that there are so many amazing businesses in Dorset, that felt like a huge achievement. To be recognised as one of the best small businesses in our entire county.

The Town & County Business Champion awards celebrate the very best of local businesses. Any business with less than 50 employees can enter. From independent coffee shops, accountancy firms to digital marketing agencies and even skin care clinics.

The pinnacle of the awards was the Grand Final Celebrations at the Copthorne Tara Hotel in Kensington, London last Tuesday. Because of COVID, it’s been such a long time since I have been to London or any kind of event. I had to find a dress to wear and everything! It turned out to be such a great day, even before the winners were announced. It was so nice to get dressed up and do something different to my everyday skin care treatments and the school run. Of course, I LOVE that my diary has been fully booked with treatments since I reopened my Christchurch skin care clinic in April (after Lockdown 3!). But it was great to have a day out and head off to the celebration.

Then they started to announce the winners for each region … and I couldn’t believe it when they said Christchurch Derma Spa! I am still in shock, but so, so grateful to receive the award and everyone’s messages of support over on my Facebook and Instagram pages. It really was a special day to remember.