Team Cheeky bag the Queens Award for Enterprise

Last week saw Team Cheeky being presented with the Queens Award for Enterprise in the category of Sustainable Development. The presentation was supposed to take place back in August but track and trace ‘pings’ put paid to that. It all worked out for the best as we were hosting it outdoors and the date in August was wet and windy, but we had a beautiful indian summer’s day.

It was an emotional day for me. I started Cheeky Wipes almost 13 years ago, when I was 37 weeks pregnant with baby number 3. At the time, people looked at me like I had taken leave of my senses. ‘You’ve created a washable baby wipes kit and you expect people to BUY it’?

Thankfully, I was simply ahead of the game and the likes of Sir David Attenborough with his Blueplanet, and Hugh Fernsley-Whittingstall and the #waronplastic have really made consumers aware of the impact that their shopping habits have on our planet.

The award means so much - not just for me, personally, but for my team. It’s recognition of the hard work that they have put in over the last 13 years. And that’s everyone from my senior management team, to admin, marketing and of course the warehouse team, who came to work with a smile even through various lockdowns.

The Queens Award isn’t an easy award to win. It’s tough - and for a reason, as it’s the highest accolade that any business can achieve in the UK. The entry requires businesses to identify and prove how the meet the 16 UN Sustainable Development goals, which look at every element of the supply chain, from factories to packaging, through staff initiatives such as enouraging cycling to work and reusing staff packaging in our own parcels.

It was a nerve-wracking day but thankfully the very charming Lord Lieutenant, Mr Andrew Blackman and his Vice Lieutenant, Sara Stonor were charming and friendly, even posing for selfies! The team enjoyed drinks from the Rathfinny estate and a buffet - there may even have been a boom-box brought out later in the day.

The day was crowned with receipt of an email inviting me to attend a reception hosted by Prince Charles at Windsor Castle during November. An event which will surely require a new (second-hand / vintage) dress for the occasion - so if you can point me in that direction, feel free to let me know!