Case Study: UN1TY - A Double Win at the 2023 Véyaon Awards
A Guernsey Business Making Waves
Digital Greenhouse members, UN1TY, a dynamic Guernsey-based business, have made significant waves in the local entrepreneurial landscape. The company's innovative approach and dedication to excellence were recognised at the 2023 Véyaon Awards, where they secured not one but two prestigious accolades. This case study delves into UN1TY's journey to success, as told by co-founders Charlotte Dunsterville and Rollo de Sausmarez, shedding light on the factors that contributed to their remarkable achievements.
Pictured from left to right: UN1TY's co-founders, Mike Ozanne, Charlotte Dunsterville, Rollo de Sausmarez and Colin Woodcock
How did you feel when you found out you were shortlisted?
As founders of a young business, we spent long hours developing the business proposition and then even more time bringing it to fruition. Making something new is rewarding in itself, but it's even better to have one’s output recognised by others! The shortlisting for 3 awards was therefore a valuable validation for the work we’d done. It created a lot of buzz with our clients too, which was the icing on the cake.
Taking you back to the evening of the black tie event, what were your first thoughts when they announced you as the winner of the Innovation in Technology Award and the Scale Up Business of the Year Award? What did it mean to you both personally and professionally?
We hoped to get 1 of the 3 awards we were shortlisted for, but nothing really prepares you for the flood of positivity that hits when your name is read out! We were stoked. Then we won a second award too, which was perhaps the same feeling but 3x stronger! We were particularly proud to get an award for one of the products we developed (Innovation in Technology Award), and an award for how we’re growing as a business (Scale Up Business of the Year Award): These are both aspects of UN1TY that we have put a lot of brain wattage into, so they’re important to us, and extra special to have them recognised.
You recently reached an impressive milestone of 100 clients on your Carbon Literacy Programme! Please tell us more about the programme and its plans for the future.
Sustainability training has been a successful offering from UN1TY. It’s incredibly useful for our clients to upskill their team and get them all pulling in the same direction for sustainable change, but also great from a “mission” perspective as each person that we train goes out and has their own impact. Next steps? Lots more students hopefully! Though we have now developed an online version of the course and a Jersey-specific version too. We are also now offering specific board-level sustainability training which is more strategic in focus, and explores the opportunities and risks of the transition to green economy, so we’re excited about the impact that will have.
How would you describe the overall impact of the Véyaon Awards on your business and your entrepreneurial journey?
It’s been really positive: Being “award-winning” opens doors and also opens them a bit wider, a bit quicker! It has helped build trust with potential clients and partners more quickly and provided a valuable milestone in our story as a business.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs considering applying for the 2024 Véyaon Awards?
If you’re thinking about it, just do it. If you win- it's great, and if you don’t you spend a bit of time clarifying what’s great about your product or business which will be valuable for other things. Just completing the application form is time well spent. It forces you to reflect and produce a pithy, attractive elevator pitch, that will be useful in any upcoming conversation with a potential client or investor.
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your experience with the Véyaon Awards?
Thanks for organising. These things really do a great job of supporting and nurturing new business, whilst also celebrating excellence. Keep up the good work.
