On the eve of our company’s 13th birthday, we received the best early present we could have hoped for: our 13th award. And not just any award. We were honoured with the GOLD award for Best Enterprising Business at the SME MK & Buckinghamshire Business Awards. The synchronicity was almost poetic, but more than that, it was a proud moment that symbolised how far we’ve come, the values we live by, and the meaningful work we get to do every day.
At Antoinette Oglethorpe Ltd, we don’t exist to chase trophies. But we do exist to make a positive difference. This award is a welcome milestone – not just for what it says about us, but for what it reflects back to our clients, our partners, and the thousands of professionals we support worldwide.
Redefining Career Development for a New Era
Anyone who has heard me speak will know I talk repeatedly about how career development needs to be more than a ladder to climb. It should be an experience to enjoy, a journey of discovery, growth, and fulfilment. That belief sits at the heart of everything we do.
Our mission is to increase enjoyability and employability — helping employees gain satisfaction and build skills in their current roles, while enabling organisations to engage, retain and develop their people. We bring that mission to life through tailored programmes, practical toolkits, and a strong foundation in solution-focused coaching.
Our services include:
- Career Conversation Workshops, grounded in our signature Career Conversation Model and Toolkit
- Certification Programmes to scale internal capability
- Mentoring Programmes that build bridges across generations
- Virtual Career Labs and Webinars that support hybrid and global teams
These aren’t off-the-shelf solutions. Each offering is designed to meet the specific needs of modern organisations and their people — whether they’re navigating uncertainty, managing hybrid teams, or planning for leadership succession.
What Makes Us Enterprising
In my mind, being “enterprising” isn’t just about being business-savvy. It’s about spotting real problems and responding with smart, scalable solutions. It’s about seeing the potential to make a difference and having the courage to act on it.
Our Certification Programme is one example. By training in-house facilitators to deliver our content, we empower clients to quadruple their impact within the same budget.
We’ve also adapted to the rise in remote and hybrid work. By transitioning our in-person programmes to digital formats, we’ve been able to reach dispersed teams across the globe, ensuring consistent, high-quality learning experiences regardless of time zone or location.
This blend of innovation, flexibility and client focus has led to significant business growth. But what we’re most proud of is the positive impact we’ve had on people’s lives and careers.
It Takes a Village
While this award was presented to our company, it belongs to all the people who make up Team AO and those we support.
To our dedicated team, thank you. Your passion, creativity and professionalism are at the heart of our success. To our clients, thank you for trusting us to partner with you as you develop your people and culture. And to every workshop participant, mentee, and career champion, thank you for embracing growth with courage and curiosity.
We also want to thank the SME MK & Buckinghamshire Awards judges for recognising our efforts. As a small company with a big mission, it’s incredibly validating to have our work acknowledged in this way.
Helping Others Grow
So, what can others learn from this moment?
If you’re an HR leader or business owner looking to build a more engaged, future-ready workforce, here are a few takeaways from our journey:
- Scalability is everything. Investing in internal capability (like our certification programme) can help you stretch your budget while still maintaining quality and impact.
- Focus on practical tools. Career development doesn’t have to be theoretical. It works best when it’s grounded in real-world conversations, guided by simple frameworks and models.
- Go digital but keep it human. Virtual learning can be just as impactful as in-person training, as long as it’s designed to be interactive, inclusive and practical.
- Look beyond the job title. Career conversations should focus on strengths, interests, and potential, not just promotions and pay grades.
Looking Ahead
As we enter our 14th year in business, we’re more energised than ever. Winning this award isn’t the end of a chapter. It’s the start of a new one. We’re continuing to innovate, collaborate and grow, all while staying true to our mission of empowering people through meaningful career development.
If you’re reading this and wondering how to bring more joy, purpose and growth to your workplace, we’d love to connect. Whether it’s a conversation, a collaboration or a coffee, let’s talk about what’s possible.
We’re looking forward to more empowered careers, more impactful conversations, and maybe, just maybe, a few more awards along the way.
