As we near the end of 2021, it’s so important to reflect on how far we’ve come.
The last couple of years have been unprecedented on a global scale and, as a result, life as we know it has been a continual struggle. We’re no different, from physical illness to mental health struggles, as a team we have suffered, but as a business we have thrived. We are multi-award winners, having been recognised for what we do for our people, and that hasn’t happened by chance.
Times have got tough, but our senior leadership team have continued to provide extra layers of support for our people to ensure that we will come out the other side.
The 2021 awards season has now wrapped up, with Charmaine being crowned Lockdown Leader at the SME National Business Awards; the only way to lead is with your heart, and our CEO, Charmaine Vincent, is proof of that.
This follows her Business Person of the Year win at the SME National Business Awards 2020/21. A career defining moment, this win is significant, not only to Charmaine, but to all women in business fighting for gender equality and for their voices to be heard.
As a business, Baltimore Consulting are predominantly female; boasting a 40:60 ratio of male/female which is a rarity for any business, and completely unheard of within the male dominated recruitment industry.
Charmaine is extremely proud of how progressive this is for the wonderful world of the recruitment industry. She actively nurtures and develops talent and celebrates their successes, regardless of their gender identity.
Last month, Charmaine was awarded Business Owner of the Year at the 2021 National Business Awards. This category honoured inspiring innovators and visionaries, and judges are looking for exceptional quality and dedication.
In 2019, she was presented with the runner up trophy for the category, and she’s certainly come a long way since then.
Charmaine states: “For me life is not a race, you will reach your desired destination in your own time if you commit to living with passion and purpose.
Great things happen when you let your heart lead the show, I’m living proof of that.”
As a team, we were awarded Corporate Fundraising Team of the Year 2021 in this year’s Cancer Research UK’s Flame of Home Awards.
As our charity of choice, we have raised over £30,000 for the charity in the last 18 months through several fundraising initiatives.
Last year, Charmaine organised an event at Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol in a bid to raise vital funds for life-saving cancer research having lost her best friend to cancer 11-years ago. The event took take place on World Cancer Day, a day to unite and beat cancer together with an aim to raise £20,000, a target in which she exceeded.
Hosted by Jeff Brazier, this prestigious black-tie event included a drink’s reception, a three-course meal, entertainment, music, auction, raffle and networking opportunities. Cancer Research UK attended, with key researchers citing the local impact funds have had.
Prior to the event, Charmaine also organised for 26 men and women to bare all in a calendar shoot for Cancer Research UK, eight of which were employees!
The “calendar girls” inspired calendars were sold in the lead up to Christmas 2019, fundraising over £3,000 for vital research for the cancer charity, in order to save lives.
Charity contribution is an integral aspect of Baltimore Consulting’s business model and both of these causes are not only extremely close to CEO, Charmaine Vincent’s heart, but the wider business as well. Having completed a 100-mile challenge in 24 hours and a skydive this year alone, we are excited to increase their fundraising efforts in support the cancer charity.
On the announcement, CEO Charmaine Vincent, states: “To be awarded Corporate Fundraising Team of the Year 2021, is a real emotional milestone for both myself and the wider business. I’m extremely passionate about making a difference and playing my part to help save the lives of those diagnosed with Cancer. I’ve seen first-hand the heart ache caused, through losing someone you love to Cancer, and this alone keeps us motivated to push the boundaries when fundraising. Small acts of kindness really do make a huge difference and I’m extremely humbled and overwhelmed that Baltimore Consulting have been recognised for going that extra mile.”
On the announcement, Laura Billingsley, Relationship Manager (Bristol, Bath & Surrounding Areas), states: ““The Flame of Hope awards give us the opportunity to celebrate and say thank you to our enormously generous volunteers and supporters for the fantastic work that they do.
“Baltimore Consulting has made a huge contribution to Cancer Research UK’s work over the past couple of years raising over £30,000 and we are incredibly grateful for the part they have played in the fight against cancer. I am so pleased they won an award and we get the opportunity to honour everyone at Baltimore Consulting who has given their time to raise money for research and promote greater awareness of the disease, and ask for nothing in return.
“Our determination to beat the disease hasn’t faltered and we are more focussed than ever on our ambition of seeing 3 in 4 people survive their cancer by 2034. However, our progress relies on the incredible dedication and commitment of volunteers and supporters like Baltimore Consulting without whom we would not be able to fund our life-saving work. One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime*. All of us can support the research that will beat it.”
