Your chance to take part in the Stratford Herald Business and Tourism Awards
HELPING a child achieve their potential and not to fear failure is the goal of Sam and Michelle Dowler, who won the Best Family Business Award at the Stratford Herald Business and Tourism Awards last year with their company Glo-Group Ltd.
The win was described by Sam as “wonderful and a complete surprise” – he and his wife didn’t have a clue that the business they founded in 2018 would win a top award just a few years later.
“The judges congratulated us on our achievement and we are still elated,” he told the Herald last week. “The awards night at the Crowne Plaza in Stratford was a fantastic networking event and a thoroughly enjoyable evening. It was bigger and better than we expected and we are thinking about entering again this year.”
Both Sam and Michelle, who have experience of primary school settings, wanted to do something to bring their combined skills together and so they established Glo-Group Ltd which is based in Tiddington.
“Within the group there is Glo-Kids, providing children’s parties, after-school clubs and kids’ discos,” explained Sam. “Glo-Babies brings fun sensory light play to parent and baby groups. We also have Glo-DJ offering discos for celebrations and special events. It’s not been easy at times especially during Covid and we all want to be a busier, but we’ve got some exciting plans for the summer and beyond.”
At the awards event last year, Sam dedicated the Best Family Business award to his late mother Gabrielle Mallard, aged 68, who was an estate agent for 40 years in Stratford.
“Mum saw us build the business and it was really starting to take off. She retired and was well known around Stratford. We chose to dedicate the award to mum,” Sam said.
Glo-Group likes to “diversify and innovate” which is why Sam and Michelle will be staging a new event at Stratford Rugby Club this summer at the end of July and early August – three events are planned in total.
“It’s for seven- to 12-year-olds and encourages children to achieve their inner potential through team building, problem solving and lots of games, so it’s a fun way to teach life skills,” he said. “They can achieve but they can fail as well and it’s important to teach them that failing isn’t a bad feeling, it’s an important feeling because you learn from it.
“Some people are good at running and some people are good at maths, but that’s diversity for you and we all have something to offer.”
The 2024 Stratford Herald Business and Tourism Awards are now open for entries.
This year’s categories are:
Best Online Business
Best Family Business
Team of the Year
Community Support Award, sponsored by Stratford-upon-Avon School
Top Attraction, sponsored by Crowne Plaza hotel
Best Business Innovation, sponsored by Porterbrook
Employer of the Year, sponsored by Stratford College
Best New Business
Charity of the Year, sponsored by Orbit
Best Customer Experience
Best Green Business
Best Pub/Bar/Restaurant, sponsored by EFX
Employee of the Year, sponsored by Stratford District Council
Business of the Year, sponsored by Shakespeare Martineau
To enter this year’s the awards, visit stratfordheraldawards.co.uk – it can all be done online ready for our independent judges to view.
