Bondholder’s pride at scooping national award

Tender and award writing specialist Ask the Chameleon is celebrating after scooping a major national accolade.

The firm, which is owned by Rachel Hayward, was recently named Micro Business of the Year at the Best British Business Awards 2022 in London.

Hosted by supermodel-turned-businesswoman Caprice Bourret and organised by SmallBusiness.co.uk, the awards saw more than 450 applications received from 355 companies across the UK.

Ask the Chameleon was among a record-breaking 108 companies who were shortlisted for their “resilience, innovation, adaptability and leadership”.

This summer, the business reported its best successive two years of trading, achieving a 158% increase in turnover compared to pre-Covid figures.

And during the coronavirus crisis, Rachel helped co-found the Swap Shop, a platform, which allowed businesses and organisations to swap goods and services.

Awarded by Liz Barclay, the UK Small Business Commissioner, the judges said: “Ask the Chameleon is making a significant contribution to a much-needed field, delivering a hugely valuable service for small, medium and large enterprises, demonstrated by the £36.1 million secured to date.

“We were particularly impressed with the achievements of the UK Swap Shop, the tender ebulletin and the retainer model in this space.”

Rachel, who was at the ceremony to accept the award, said: “To have been chosen from such a fantastic group of small businesses and to fly the flag for micro firms from outside London gives me immense pride.

“The judges particularly highlighted our collective support of each other through the Swap Shop during Covid, which was the icing on the cake.

“The economic situation is tough, yet the room was filled with passionate forward-thinking businesses who are prepared to weather the coming storms and grow their businesses. I was so proud to be among them.”