The finalists for the EDP Business Awards 2023 have been announced, with businesses across the region receiving recognition for their hard work.
Here, we find out more about this year's Director of the Year finalists.
Jenna Owen – Ambition Public Relations
Jenna has been instrumental in driving forward the growth of Ambition Public Relations, a PR firm based in Costessey.
Revenue of £110,000 in 2020 is predicted to have quadrupled by the end of 2023; six-monthly revenue figures for this year already show income of £203,000.
The rapid growth has been spearheaded by Jenna’s focus on developing strategic partnerships with organisations that want to incorporate specialist PR services into their client offerings, as well as expanding the agency’s presence in high-growth areas such as financial services and technology.
The judges said Jenna is “personable, self aware and clearly very passionate about her business”.
They added that she spoke knowledgeably about having pivoted the business, the positive impact this had had and how she plans on creating further structure in the team to enable her to work more strategically on the business as opposed to in it.
Jon Barnard – Greyfriars project management
Based in Norwich, Greyfriars Project Management specialises in the delivery of major development and infrastructure projects in the construction industry, across East Anglia and beyond.
Director and founder Jon Barnard established Greyfriars to help successfully deliver projects which provided real community benefits.
The company’s success in this niche has led it to working with local authorities, charities and educational academies throughout East Anglia.
Noting the “huge growth” achieved by Greyfriars in the past 12 months, the judges said the investment that Jon has made in the team has paid off. They commended the “considered business model which will protect current employees and offer opportunities to more people”.
Lauren Yaxley – LY Copywriting
Hoveton-based LY Copywriting provides copywriting, blogging, social media management services, and more, to brands across the UK and around the world.
Lauren set up the business as a freelancer in 2013, working with a handful of clients.
During the first few years, the business grew steadily and she began outsourcing work to other sub-contracted freelancers.
From 2013 to early 2022, Lauren went from freelancer to mum of one, to small business owner and mum of two, and then to agency owner with a team of talented creatives and support staff.
The judges said Lauren “has found a niche” in the local marketing sector and has “worked hard to be the leader in that field”.
Phin Robinson – Pure Physiotherapy
With premises in Norwich and Great Yarmouth, Pure Physiotherapy is the biggest partner to the NHS in the East of England, with its first-contact physiotherapists supporting the majority of GP surgeries in Norfolk.
Due to its success locally and regionally, the company now supports NHS partners across the country from Cromer to Devon, Great Yarmouth to Manchester, London and most major cities.
Managing director Phin Robinson still works weekly as a physiotherapist which helps to inspire the wider team as his passion for being a physiotherapist is still evident, alongside the growth and success of the company.
The judges praised Phin’s “clear and transparent dedication to his team” in terms of investment in their skills, wellbeing and motivation.
They also commended his “excellent strategic input” which showcased a “considered appetite to diversify and grow the business”.
The winner of the Director of the Year award will be revealed at the EDP Business Awards ceremony on Thursday, November 23 at Norfolk Showground. For more information or to buy tickets, visit edpbusinessawards.co.uk
To see the finalists in all categories, please click here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here