November 2016
We spend an entire year planning and promoting then executing and delivering the SBID International Design Awards
November is the month when the office changes focus – its all hands to it from lifting and moving goody bags and stock to laying out banners, seating plans and everything else in between.
I love it but immediately afterwards I need a weekend to recover. Lavinia runs the awards behind the scenes throughout the year single handed lay just coming to me for sign-off of any changes that need to be made.
For several years we have invested everything we do back into the event and it has paid off. We had a waiting list of almost 50% more of the room capacity. It is an amazing day and we encourage people to have a good time, network and celebrate intelligent design.
In the middle of our final preparation. I jumped on a plane to Glasgow to watch the Popmaster Quiz. It was amazing, 400 people played a quiz at their table with their friends and had a ball. A really
lovely night out based on fun and friendships.
We are not giving out lollipops in exchange for tickets, we are celebrating the best design around the world and that is not for sale, it is earned. The design, execution and visual improvement to an interior space is the value of the profession of deign. It is an event not to miss and we enjoy it from the beginning to the end. With guests flying into London from all over the world, we have entries from 45 Countries all competing to take home one of the fourteen category trophies made by Sans
Souci. Everything is spectacular and the buzz just grows year on year.
A few days before the awards we host a face-to-face Meet the Buyer event at the Dorchester Hotel too.
Our fabulous photographer; Anthony Gould
Sandwiched between these two international events is a networking event for guests to network at
the House of Lords over afternoon tea.
Sadly, this year Lord Taylor of Blackburn who was such a great supporter of SBID and all that I do for education. Unfortunately, he was involved in a road accident between a lorry and his mobility
scooter and was unable to attend but I was told he was improving. His good friend stood in and gave a speech to our guests in Lord Taylor’s honour. It was therefore even harder to learn that Lord Taylor passed away several days later. He was so cheeky, funny and willing to help. His northern warmth, his twinkling eye will be missed. He leaves behind his grandchildren, children friends and business colleagues. He will be missed around the terraces and restaurants in the Palaces of Westminster and the timing makes it even harder for his grandchildren to come to terms with.