We're taking a trip down memory lane this year by blogging about the different awards that have come our way since inception of Glawning Ltd and the features we've had in various publications. Humour us.
In May 2018, James and I experienced a most memorable milestone in our journey as a family-run glamping business when we attended the Family Business of the Year Awards in London — and came home with not one, but two awards!
The awards ceremony took place at the prestigious May Fair Hotel in London so we booked a babysitter and got the glad rags on - we were properly OUT OUT. We loved hearing how other family businesses had grown, evolved, and thrived over many years.
What we didn’t expect was to be called to the stage ourselves.
That evening, we were named Winners of the ‘Ones To Watch’ Award, as well as Runner Up in the Small Business of the Year Award! The judges highlighted our innovative niche product — driveaway awnings designed specifically for the growing glamping and campervan market — along with our strong potential for growth in what was then a rapidly emerging sector.
At the time, Glawning was still in its early stages. James and I had both gone full time in the business just a year earlier, focusing on developing high-quality driveaway awnings for campervans, motorhomes, and glamping setups. To receive this level of recognition so early on was a huge confidence boost and a powerful validation of our vision.
Winning these awards helped raise our profile within the glamping, outdoor leisure, and family business communities, and reinforced our belief that there was a real demand for innovative, versatile awning solutions that enhanced outdoor living.
Looking back, that night in May 2018 marked a turning point for Glawning. Our first proper award! We were an award-winning business! It reminded us why we started, strengthened our confidence in our driveaway awning designs, and gave us the motivation to keep building a brand we’re proud of. We would encourage all small businesses to keep applying for awards.
Organised by Family Business United, the UK’s leading champions of family-owned businesses, the awards were first introduced in 2012 and have since become a key fixture in the family business calendar annually celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship, and long-term vision, recognising outstanding family businesses from across the UK — some of them go way back!
We remain incredibly grateful to Family Business United for recognising our work and supporting family businesses like ours — and for giving us a moment we’ll always remember.
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