Episode 175: Bringing Awards to The Isle of Man with Louise Wheeler

This week's Business Awards Show looks at Bringing Awards to the Isle of Man with Louise Wheeler, founder of L C Consultancy and the Elevate You Awards. Originally from Essex, Louise ended up in the Isle of Man almost by accident. In her words it was because she and her now husband were offered a free lift from Guernsey!

Louise's Journey:

After 15 years in L&D, including four years in the gaming industry, Louise took the leap to establish LC Consulting. Starting with basic challenges like setting up professional email addresses and websites, she built a thriving consultancy specializing in leadership training, executive coaching, and organizational culture development.

Key insights from this episode:

• Why bite-size learning works - Louise delivers impactful half-day sessions (3-3.5 hours) rather than full-day programs that sap attention and effectiveness

• The power of differentiation - Louise strategically gained qualifications and licenses to offer services competitors weren't providing, making her the go-to expert on the Isle of Man

• Awards awakening - From collecting a corporate award without personal attachment to discovering the transformative power of business awards through a virtual course speaker

• Strategic award planning - After winning Director of the Year (Institute of Directors) and Woman Who Solopreneur, Louise now focuses on industry-specific awards in L&D, coaching, and culture

Creating the Elevate You Awards:

Inspired by Sandra Garlick's Woman Who awards, Louise founded Elevate You to recognize women leaders, entrepreneurs, and solo-preneurs on the Isle of Man. What started as an expectation of 30 attendees exploded into 100+ guests at an afternoon event designed for working mums.

Louise's innovative approach included afternoon timing (finishing by 3:30pm for school runs), no childcare barriers, elegant afternoon tea, and intimate celebration - deliberately different from traditional evening galas. The overwhelming feedback? "Do this every year!"

Louise's wisdom: "Say yes and do it scared" - embracing opportunities despite fear leads to unexpected success and growth.

About Louise

After leaving her senior corporate role in 2021, Lou took the leap to build a consultancy that brings together her qualifications and 15+ years of experience across leadership development, coaching, and culture transformation. Today, she specialises in helping leaders and managers grow into confident, capable, resilient, people leaders.

Alongside this work, Lou created Elevate You, a brand devoted to recognising, supporting, and empowering women in business. In 2025, she launched the Isle of Man's first-ever awards event dedicated to celebrating women, an entire platform she built from scratch while running her consuiltancy. Elevate You has grown into a community platform that champions achievement, sparks confidence, and brings ambitious women together.

Away from work, Lou is a mum and wife living in a very lively, boy-filled house. Their two Cockapoos insist on being her "worjk colleagues" and she admits they are adorable but major distractions!

 

{2:15} Why Louise left the gaming industry to set up an L&D company and an Awards programme.

{4:23} Why Louise came to live in the Isle of Man.

{7:30} The challenges running a consultancy business.

{10:34} Finding her first clients.

{14:00} The types of projects Louise works on.

{17:16} When awards first came on the radar.

{22:27} Winning an Institute of Directors' Award.

{24:05} How the Elevate You Awards were created.

{27:47} The inaugural Elevate You event in September 2025.

{28:49} The judging process.

{30:28} The number of finalists and winners.

{35:40} Turning Elevate You into a community platform.

{37:09} Louise's one nugget of wisdom.

 

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

                                        https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/

Connect with Louise:  https://lcconsultancy.im/

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/l-c-consultancy-limited/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089246773652

                 https://www.facebook.com/p/Elevate-You-61573836203920/