Category judge Caz Blaxcell, chief marketing officer at Fleximize, tells us what she is eager to see from entrants

Can you tell us a bit about your business journey? 

After leaving university, I landed my first job as a junior interior designer at a small firm on the Suffolk coast. After spending a year there, I wanted to pursue marketing, so I joined a fast-growing company as an online marketing assistant.

Within two years, I worked my way up to marketing manager and joined Fleximize as its head of marketing in 2014, just two months after its launch.

Why were you keen to get involved in the Business Awards? 

I’m extremely passionate about small businesses and building brands, so I love the idea of learning about the entrepreneurial stories and seeing the inner workings of small businesses across the county.

Caz Blaxcell, category judge and chief marketing officer at Fleximize (Image: Phil Barnes Photography)

What do you bring to the judging process?

I understand what it takes to build a strong brand and a profitable business, and I believe my passion for marketing will bring a unique perspective to the judging process.

Plus, I’m full of energy and the ultimate hype-woman, so I am looking forward to uncovering some talent that I can shout about!

Do you have any anecdotes of moments that changed your business strategy? 

You don’t need to know all the answers from the get-go, but you need to be ready to fail fast and learn quickly.

Staying agile has seen us thrive where our competitors have folded, and I think identifying problems quickly and addressing them faster has been instrumental to our success.

What will you be looking for in the winner?

I am looking for authenticity, creativity and heaps of ambition from the winner. However, this must also be underpinned by a solid business model with a clear strategy, demonstrating adaptability, resilience and forward-thinking.

What advice would you give to a business that’s considering entering? 

Go for it! The recognition and exposure will be worth the time spent putting your entry together. Plus, the process of entering will be constructive for your business.

Think about why you do what you do, and what makes you unique, and draw upon that when writing your entry.

Entries for the EADT Business Awards close on April 30. To enter the Small Business of the Year category, please visit the website at www.eadt businessawards.co.uk

To find out more about all the categories, click here.

Award criteria

The Small Business of the Year (up to £1m turnover) award will be given to the company that demonstrates all-round excellence in business.

The judging will focus on trading performance and future objectives and the competitive advantage of the business. It will also look at examples of specific strategies which have driven business growth.

If your business achievements are impressive, then this award is for you.