Rebuilding Award Medals: A Year of Resilience, Reinvention and Purpose

Twelve months ago this week, 01/06/2025, I found myself facing one of the most challenging periods of my professional life.

Taking Award Medals forward from liquidation was not simply a case of restarting a business, it meant rebuilding almost everything from the ground up. Relationships, infrastructure, credibility, and trust all had to be re-earned.

From the outset, however, it became immediately clear to me that Award Medals had something very special, people who genuinely cared.

In my first week, and the last few days of the old company, despite the uncertainty surrounding everything, not knowing what the future held for them personally, there were members of the existing team who showed incredible commitment. They stepped forward without hesitation, offering their time, their knowledge, and their support at a point when walking away would have been far easier.

They helped me understand the operational realities of the business, supported the continuation of orders, and did everything they could to ensure that customers were not disadvantaged during such a difficult transition.

That level of professionalism and integrity left a lasting impression on me and set a benchmark for the culture I wanted to rebuild.

At the same time, I had to rebuild supplier relationships that had been understandably damaged. This meant having open and honest conversations, re-establishing trust, and in many cases renegotiating terms so that we could move forward in a way that worked for both sides. It was essential to me to ensure that the suppliers I worked with were genuine, reliable, and aligned with the standards I wanted to set for the business, as it was essential for them to do too in their assessment of me.

Alongside this, I was faced with immediate and very real operational obstacles. Critical assets such as our domain, website, and telephone systems were effectively out of my control, leaving the business disconnected at a time when communication was vital. Regaining control was neither quick nor straightforward.

Progress often felt hard-won, with every step forward requiring persistence and resolve.

It would not be honest to suggest that everything went as well as we would have hoped. Despite everyone’s efforts, there were customers who were disadvantaged by the situation, more than I would have wanted. That is something I take seriously and reflect on often. The reality of stepping into a business at that stage is that not every issue can be resolved immediately, and not every outcome can be perfect, no matter how hard you try.

But throughout all of this, my focus remained the same: stabilise the business, rebuild its foundations, and restore confidence in Award Medals.

Operating Without a Team

In the early months, I was effectively operating alone.

Due to the liquidation of the previous business, staff losses had been unavoidable, and there were no employees in place to support the day-to-day running of the business. Every task, production, administration, customer service, fulfilment, fell to me.

This was a stark transition from my previous role as a consultant within a government agency. There, my work had been strategic and advisory. Stepping into full operational responsibility meant taking ownership of every decision, every process, and every outcome.

It was a steep learning curve. The pace was relentless, and there was no separation between planning and execution, everything had to happen at once.

Managing on a Knife Edge

One of the most challenging and defining aspects of the past 12 months has been managing finances at a very small scale.

There were periods where every decision mattered, where I had to carefully balance what we could afford, ensuring that both our suppliers and, later, our staff were paid. There was no safety net, no buffer, and no room for complacency.

This required a level of financial discipline I had never previously experienced. It meant constantly assessing priorities, making difficult decisions, and carrying a level of responsibility that is hard to fully describe.

Being completely honest, this has been one of the hardest challenges I have faced over the past year. It is also a life skill I will never forget. It has fundamentally changed how I view cash flow, commitments, and what it truly means to run a business responsibly.

Rebuilding the Team

One of the most rewarding parts of the journey has been rebuilding the team.

From those early days of working alone, Award Medals has grown into a team of six, including five fantastic employees who have become the backbone of the business. Their dedication, skill, and belief in what we are building have been instrumental.

We remain a small team, intentionally so. It allows us to stay focused, agile, and accountable.

Redefining How We Work

A critical part of securing the future of Award Medals has been changing how we operate.

I made a conscious decision to move away from volume, driven work and instead focus on quality over quantity. That principle now underpins everything we do.

We have introduced tighter controls, clearer processes, and higher standards. Every product we create and every order we fulfil reflects a commitment to precision, care, and professionalism.

Our aim is simple: to deliver consistently high, quality work, supported by realistic timeframes and exceptional service.

Moving Forward, Smarter and Leaner

Over the past year, I have focused heavily on improving efficiency and reducing overheads.

We have relocated to a more operationally optimised premises, one that better supports our workflows while also making sound financial sense. This move has improved both control and efficiency across the business.

At the same time, we have embraced new technologies to streamline processes, reduce manual effort, and create a leaner, more sustainable operation. This remains an ongoing effort as we continue to refine how we work.

Where We Stand Today

Today, Award Medals is a small, fully operational business based in the heart of the UK.

We are a team of six, focused on quality craftsmanship, exceptional customer service, clear and realistic delivery expectations, and maintaining high internal standards.

Every order we complete represents more than just our service, it reflects the resilience, effort, and determination that has brought us to this point.

Looking Ahead

The past year has tested every aspect of my professional capability. It has required resilience, adaptability, and an unwavering focus on doing things the right way.

There is still more to do. We will continue to refine our processes, invest in improvements, and build on the foundations we have created.

It is also important to be clear about who we are and who we are not.

As much as some of our customers might wish, we are not Amazon. We do not operate at that scale, and we do not believe in sacrificing quality for speed or volume.

We are a British, veteran-owned business, handcrafting bespoke products with care, precision, and pride. The work we produce is often for some of the UK’s most demanding customers, including our Military and Emergency Services, organisations with some of the most intricate and exacting requirements.

That level of detail cannot be rushed or mass-produced. It requires skill, experience, and a genuine commitment to getting things right.

As a small team, we take that responsibility seriously. We operate to our own stringent standards for quality and delivery, and we work tirelessly to meet them. Our focus will always remain on providing an unrivalled level of service built on trust, craftsmanship, and accountability.

Award Medals is no longer simply recovering.

We are moving forward, with purpose, clarity, and a clear identity in what we stand for.