Member Article

Get Ahead celebrates triple awards recognition in three national business awards

Virtual outsourcing agency Get Ahead is delighted to be shortlisted in no less than six categories for three different national business awards, focused on women in business and franchising.

Rebecca Newenham, founder and director of Get Ahead, has been selected as a finalist in the Best Business Women Awards 2021 for Most Inspiring Businesswoman and Best Business Woman in Business Services. Rebecca has also been shortlisted in the National Business Women’s Awards 2021, for Business Owner of the Year and Southern England Business Woman of the Year.

After a corporate buying career for retail giants Superdrug and Sainsburys, Rebecca founded Get Ahead in 2010. Since then, her team has grown to over 50 virtual assistants and franchisees, providing flexible, effective marketing and business support services to clients across the UK. The business has previously been crowned Flexible Business of the Year and Rebecca herself has been recognised as a leading female entrepreneur.

Despite the pandemic, 2020 was a pivotal year for Get Ahead. Rebecca published her first book ‘Virtually Yours’, and the business welcomed a record number of new franchisees.

Debbie Gilbert, organiser of the Best Business Women Awards awards said: “The entries were judged by a panel of business experts who had a tough job reading hundreds of entries. To be a finalist in this competition is a major achievement and a mark of quality. All our finalists are all shining examples of being successful entrepreneurs who have proved their success to our judges.” The Gold Winners of each category will be announced The Best Business Women Awards Gala Final at the Hilton Wembley on 15th October. The winners of the National Business Women’s Awards 2021 awards will also be crowned in Wembley, at their Grand Awards Celebration on Friday 19th November 2021.

Get Ahead has also been shortlisted in two categories of the bfa HSBC British Franchise Awards 2021. These prestigious industry awards are designed to recognise the diamond standard in franchising, acknowledging brands that have gone above and beyond to build a franchise community based on strong ethics and business success.

Get Ahead has been selected as a finalist for the Franchise Balance Award and Fiona Ibbetson, Get Ahead Leeds, York & Harrogate, is a finalist in the Lifestyle Franchisee Award.

“The standard of this years’ applicants has been outstanding. We have seen incredible displays of commitment, dedication and passion across a multitude of sectors throughout the franchise industry.” says bfa CEO, Pip Wilkins.

The awards received a record number of entries this year, making the competition for finalist places even more fierce. The winners will be announced at the Vox, Birmingham, on November 30.

Rebecca Newenham says: “I am beyond delighted to be shortlisted in these national business awards. Between them, they recognise my dream of creating a flexible business that would allow highly talented individuals, particularly parents, to balance both work and family life.

I want to thank all of my team for helping to get Get Ahead recognised in these awards, as well as congratulate Fiona on her finalist place. Fiona has had a fantastic first 3 years in business and I am so pleased to see her hard work recognised in this way.“

Rebecca, Fiona and the entire Get Ahead team will be keeping their fingers crossed for the next few months as the winners of all three awards are announced. “Just to make the shortlist of each category is such an achievement,” Rebecca concluded. “I wish every one of the finalists the best of luck and I am looking forward to celebrating everyone’s achievements at the awards ceremonies.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Caroline Saunders .