The 2025 Small Awards

We were short-listed!!!!

There’s a certain scepticism around business awards. Some demand eye-watering entry fees, charge for attendance, and leave you wondering if the winners are those with the deepest pockets. And then, there are the awards that stand apart. 

Kirsty Woodgate at the 2025 Small Awards in Marylebone

The Small Awards, founded by Small Business Britain, is one of them. A celebration and promotion of the UK’s vibrant, tenacious, and determined small business community.

This year, around 1,000 businesses entered. Just 88 were shortlisted across 11 categories, and to our delight, First Glass Wine Events was one of them. I had to sit back down and read the email twice as I couldn’t quite believe we were on it!

But it was true, we were short-listed in the ‘Bricks and Clicks’ category with seven others.

Shortly after came an invitation to a masquerade-themed evening in Marylebone, London. Silver and gold glitzy dress code, with attendance having no bearing on the outcome. Of course we were going! And so were almost all the others, from Cardiff to Hartlepool.

We weren’t sure what to expect, which is exactly why I’m writing this. There’s little online from previous finalists, so consider this a peek behind our masquerade masks.

We arrived to a warm welcome and a cold glass of bubbles (good start) and a room of stories and ambition. The London City Choir (past winners themselves) kicked off the evening with so much energy. Mel Perkins (of Mel and Sue fame) hosted. She joked someone had already called her Sue that evening, and while I’m sure it’s a line she uses at every event, I couldn’t help but wonder if it had been me when she agreed to a selfie. I’ve never seen Bake Off.

Through the night we chatted to our table and learnt about their impressive businesses over dinner (which was delicious, well done Boulevard Catering!) and the awards were announced in batches, with ours as the final category of the night. This meant I didn’t touch any red wine, just in case we won and I needed to be photo-ready!

We didn’t win, but we were overjoyed to celebrate with those who did, two of whom (Blind Beauty and Deaf Friendly Ltd) were at our table! It was incredible to see their faces when their names were called.

First Glass Wine Events mentioned in the Awards program

For us, what mattered was being in that room surrounded by people who had pushed past the precarious early days of business (they noted that most don’t make it through the first year) and who had dared to turn their ideas into something real. As a small business, we know you have to wear all the hats all of the time.

To quote the inspirational Michelle Ovens CBE, founder of Small Business Britain:
“There is still gold in the hills” and that night, we saw it. Not just in the shimmer of the dress code, but in the resilience, creativity, and community of every small business there.

This award nomination was aptly timed for us, as we celebrated our first birthday and are about to launch our first event to make new friends as adults.

To everyone who has supported us on this journey, we thank you so much.