Karen's website shows off all those awards!
The HSBC Start-Up Star Awards are coming soon, with lots of small businesses and entrepreneurs vying for the top spot.
At the same time, we’ve introduced a new segment – Meet the Customers, where we profile companies and business owners, passing their valuable advice and experience on to you.
But a funny thing happened when we contacted Karen McQuade of the UK Foodhall Ltd.
It turns out that Karen is the HSBC Start-Up Star of 2009!
As well as the UK Foodhall Ltd collecting awards as a supplier, a start-up and a local business, Karen has also won an award for her achievements as a businesswoman.
We thought that she’d be the perfect customer to speak to about her experiences running a company – and now we can also find out what tips she could pass on to us about the HSBC Start-Up Star Awards (and how to win it!).
The UK Foodhall Ltd help connect Local Authorities with British farmers, so that kids get fresh, locally sourced food in their schools. You can contact them on 0845 301 1182 to get more information.
What does your company do?
Our strapline is ‘Great British Food for Great British Kids’ we support British farmers and British manufacturers by providing an assured product range for use in school dinners.
What inspired you to start this business?
I wanted to provide a route to market for the British farmers, and provide Local Authorities with what they wanted, locally procured food.
What made you nominate The UK Foodhall for the Start-Up Star Award?
I am so proud of what we have done and how we have changed our market that I wanted to tell the world! So I nominated us for the HSBC Start-up Star award so that we might gain publicly, we would gain experience in being involved in such a prestigious award, and I hoped we may get to the Semi Finals, so that it would motivate our stakeholders.
What has the experience done for your company?
Winning the HSBC Start-up Star award was wonderful. It was such a brilliant surprise on the night, and has done wonders for our motivation, our brand, our stakeholders and our turnover.
What characteristics do you have that have helped to make your business a success?
Myself and my Business Partner, Robert Clark, are both passionate about our market and making a difference in it. We want to provide clean, healthy, locally produced food to children.
How are you funding your business?
We are funding the company through sales. We do not owe any money to anyone.
What are you most keen to learn that will help you grow your business further?
I am keen to learn more about marketing and PR, we know food, and catering, but perhaps struggle for creative ideas.
Are there any brands, companies or personalities that you most admire or aspire to?
I love the marketing of the brand ‘Innocent’ I love that you can hear their very distinctive voice in every word.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your company?
The biggest challenge is to manage our growth effectively, not to grow too big and not to take on too much.
What is your main goal for your company?
To never let down our customers.
Do you have any advice for people thinking of starting their own business?
Get a good accountant and recruit mentors, everyday’s a schoolday, and people to hold your hand are priceless.
Could you tell us about the other awards that you’ve won?
2008 LACA Outstanding Supplier of the Year
2009 Powys Small Business of the Year
2009 NatWest Everywoman Award
And of course 2009 HSBC Start-up Star!
Where there any stand-out areas that you feel helped you win the awards (any of them!)?
Our turnover is very high for a new company with just 3 staff (6 million pounds) and our business model is very unique, one goes hand in hand with the other. I think this combined with our enthusiasm made us the winners.
Do you have any advice for companies thinking of nominating themselves for awards?
I would advise anyone who is thinking of nominating themselves to just put pen to paper and do it! We have been on an incredible journey as the HSBC Start-up Star, and I know that it’s been a big factor in our growth this year. The judging panel are such a scary prospect, but once you get over your nerves and face them, being interviewed by them makes for a fantastic experience. It’s a chance in a lifetime to have the opportunity to meet such influential businesspeople, and the whole experience is both challenging and fun, but if you win, hold on tight, its one heck of a ride!
Is being a business owner how you expected it to be, or have you had any surprises along the way?
I was not surprised at the hard work, as everyone warned me about that, but I was surprised at what an amazing and exciting journey it would be.
