Great British Entrepreneur Awards Finalist
Istoria Group’s Chairwoman, Claire Menzies is a contender for a Great British Entrepreneur Award.
We’re delighted to share that our Founder and Chairwoman has been shortlisted for the Creative Industries Entrepreneur of the Year award at the 2022 Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
We’re told that this year the competition was stronger than ever, with over 5,300 applications! It’s clear that entrepreneurial spirit is very much alive and well in UK businesses.
Below is an overview of the category and what it takes to be a finalist.
Creative Industries Entrepreneur of the Year
Creative entrepreneurs run businesses in which the creation process has an economic impact, a social impact and a cultural impact. The Great British Entrepreneur Awards Creative Industries Entrepreneur of the Year will be the entrepreneur driving a profit-making business whose output is the unique product of the human imagination, also known as intellectual property.
Last year the awards were described by Steven Bartlett as ‘The Grammy’s of Entrepreneurship’, hosted at The Grosvenor House Hotel. The awards return once again on Monday 21st November. We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for Claire!
Good luck to everyone involved.
About Claire
As Chairwoman at Istoria Group, the board benefits from Claire’s professional experience spanning 30 years in the creative sector, including senior roles at top agencies. She is a visionary leader and a true inspiration.
Claire’s journey to becoming an entrepreneur started at her first role at a leading FMCG corporation. Frustrated by the restrictions imposed on her creative role, Claire resigned, bought a one way ticket to Europe and was given the opportunity to sail around the world. This proved to be both life changing and business defining - a catalyst for future passions that would balance people, planet and prosperity.
Claire returned to the UK to work for a leading global creative agency and began to innovate and educate her peers and clients in sustainable ways. However, after a decade of trying to make a major and lasting impact in an industry where female leadership was severely underrepresented, with a slow-to-change and wasteful practice mentality, she chose to use her entrepreneurial skills for the better and in 2007 she founded Ignition (the largest agency within Istoria Group, specialising in exhibitions, events and experiences). Her vision was to start a company that balances people, planet and prosperity and deliver great work for her clients.
In her own words:
“It’s a no-brainer that a happy company is not only more productive but creates a better experience for clients too. Investment in people always makes impeccable – and sustainable – business sense.”
Inclusivity is fundamental and trusting those which Claire surrounds herself with has allowed her to flourish as an entrepreneur. Claire truly believes the well known phrase ‘leave it to the experts’. Throughout her career to date, Claire has met exceptional individuals and collaborated with progressive brands, all focussed on making a positive difference to society.