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Blowing your trumpet: When are awards really worth winning?

Look at any local news website and you’ll soon be assailed by stories of businesses winning (supposedly “prestigious”) awards. The message is clear; there are lots of awards around. You could probably enter one every week if you like. 

The real question is whether they are actually meaningful and resonate with your target market. Aside from having a nice trophy to put on the mantelpiece, will they contribute anything to your business in the long term?

 

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The Alertacall Team at the Northern Housing Awards

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A “love letter” to Dame Esther Rantzen

This is a kind of love letter; a love letter to a woman who has had an incalculable effect on my life and that of so many others.

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The powerful link between selling and leadership: How a ‘grizzly bear’ changed my life!

If you speak to the founders of tech companies, you’ll find that many of us of a certain age had a similar experience in our youth.

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Greg Reed: Leading by listening

Without housing associations the country would be in chaos. Of the estimated 24m homes in England, 4.4m of them are owned by the social housing sector…

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Hello, I’m James Batchelor
Expert on technology, entrepreneurship and digitisation for the ageing population

My name is James Batchelor and every day I strive to discover new ways to use Technology, Leadership and Change to help organisations not just make money, but make the world a better place too.

I want everybody to understand this potential. That’s why I work as a mentor for other founders and entrepreneurs. And, that’s why I am sharing my own insights and those of other brilliant people with you here.

In 2004 I invented the “I am OK button” (which we have evolved in to OKEachDay®) and founded Alertacall – an award-winning company that helps tens of thousands of people feel safe, connected and informed whilst also combating loneliness and isolation.

I also work with a number of charities, including as Trustee of The Silver Line; a British charity helpline for older people founded by Dame Esther Rantzen.

My work and my life has one simple philosophy: Live Well, Give Back.

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7
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James has built a great business. One that he and his team can be proud of. Disrupting the market, creating jobs and driving innovation. He has done it from scratch and every day pushes it to new heights. That’s a proper entrepreneur.

Jeremy Middleton CBE, Co-founder HomeServe Plc

James has the uncanny ability to see others potential and show them in practical terms how best to level up! His ability to cut through the BS and find the nuggets of gold is unparalleled. If you are growing your business or developing as an individual he should be the first person you contact.

James Brown, Award-Winning Magician & Author

James has an infectious positive energy combined with an extensive network of leaders and entrepreneurs. His adventurous spirit and approach to risk-taking has made him a pioneer, mentor and fabulous story-teller.

Jordan Wylie, Extreme Adventurer, Author & TV Personality

Meeting James is like getting a shot of neat adrenaline!

John Sutherland, Author, Newspaper Columnist and Emeritus Lord Northcliffe Professor of Modern English Literature at UCL

"James is clever, intense and has many interests. It seems to me that when he imagines a project it is already half done!"

Ted Nelson, Inventor of Hypertext, Pioneer of Information Technology

"One of only a handful of people who really understands the motions of growing a company from scratch - a true entrepreneur!"

Sam Etherington, Winner of The James Dyson Award, Founder of Aqua Power Technologies

"James has an immense gift for helping others to turn vague ideas into practical, successful realities, and in the process building the confidence and effectiveness of the people he works with."

Tim Farron, MP, former Liberal Democrat Leader

"James is an inspirational entrepreneur with a genuine passion for people, sharing ideas and empowering others. Anyone who James doesn't know isn't worth knowing!"

Alex Staniforth, Endurance Athlete, Author and Charity Founder

James inspires me for so many reasons. He is a successful tech entrepreneur, has a strong social conscience, cares about the people he works with and is highly creative. I come away from every discussion with new ways to live well and give back.

Martin Rayner of Lakeland Kitchenware - Award Winning Global Retailer

James is a great ideas generator, and a real expert at connecting people – he’s been a huge help in establishing my leadership development business. Thank you James.

Neil Jurd OBE, Award Winning Leadership Coach & Author

James is one of the most interesting people I have ever met. He somehow balances success in business whilst also making vulnerable people's lives better, with networking skills that are in a league of their own. Importantly, he is a lovely fella - kind, generous, and down-to-earth.

Tim Marston, Fire Juggling Pioneer

James is a remarkable connector!

Kim Kremer, Owner, Notting Hill Editions

As a speaker he is fluent and natural, generous and self-deprecating. His experience is wide and he presents a warts-and-all analysis of the life and ups and downs of a serial entrepreneur.

Magnus George, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Lancaster University Management School

For many years, James has been a good source of business acumen, smart advice, strong encouragement and useful contacts. He has always been generous with his time, his insights and his realistic business guidance based on his own extensive experience.

Ian Rowland, Author, Speaker and member of The Inner Magic Circle

James has been an invaluable mentor to me in growing my business. He got to the bottom of the issues I was facing and understood them totally, having been there himself. I find talking things through with James very empowering and only wish we were able to talk more!

Kate Dew, Founder of CraftCourses.com

James is a terrific mentor. He has energy, integrity, original ideas and enthusiasm. I have been most grateful for his wisdom and thoughtful advice.

Bryher Scudamore, Founder of AutoDotBiography

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