Pitch perfect trio scoop £300,000 prize

Three female-led businesses are celebrating after winning a national competition designed to boost small firms with bold ideas.

The “trailblazing” entrepreneurs behind helloSKIN, Calla Shoes and Oatsu have each secured a share of a £300,000 advertising prize in Constant Contact’s Small Business, Big Break contest, which included a Dragons’ Den-style pitch to industry judges.

Winners Natalie James, Jennifer Bailey and Lauren O’Donnell beat thousands of applicants and eight shortlisted finalists to claim a professionally produced TV advert, tailored digital marketing support and creative mentoring.

Natalie, founder of London-based skincare brand helloSKIN, said: “Winning this competition means the world to me.

“We’re passionate about creating affordable, high-performance skincare that’s kind to both people and the planet. 

“This TV opportunity will help us spread the word about our dissolvable masks and inspire more consumers to glow responsibly.” 

Jennifer, founder of Salford-based women’s shoe brand Calla Shoes, added: “I am beyond proud of the whole Calla team and the partners we work with that made my job of pitching our story and successes so much easier.  

“I’m completely overwhelmed and surprised as the calibre of the finalists was so good; I would have found it impossible to pick one of us after listening to each of their inspiring stories. 

“Calla now has an incredible opportunity to reach millions of homes in the UK with our mission to help all women stand tall and confident in their footwear – I can’t wait to see us on TV in the run-up to Christmas.” 

Lauren, founder of overnight oats brand Oatsu, added: “I’m absolutely over the moon.

“This win comes at a pivotal time for Oatsu. 

“After more than a year in development, we’ve launched the UK’s first ready-to-eat overnight oats range with an industry-leading shelf life and no preservatives. 

“With strong interest from major retailers and a loyal customer base, we’re now ready to scale. 

“The opportunity to showcase our brand on Channel 4 is a game-changer, helping us in positioning Oatsu as the UK’s leading healthy breakfast brand.” 

The nationwide competition, run in partnership with Enterprise Nation and backed by Channel 4, aims to help high-growth small businesses reach new customers and build brand recognition.

Judges including former Dragon and artificial intelligence entrepreneur Piers Linney selected the three businesses for their innovation, impact and growth potential. 

Erika Robinson, UK general manager at Constant Contact, added: “Small Business, Big Break is about giving our UK entrepreneurs the recognition they deserve and to make a difference to their growth trajectory. 

“The quality of pitches we witnessed underscores the incredible innovation within the small business sector.

“We are proud to award these winning SMEs a chance to escalate their growth through a national TV campaign.” 

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