A Proud Moment: Chiltern Relocation at the House of Lordse
Chiltern Relocation invited to The House of Lords
As work days go, it doesn’t get much better than this. Standing shoulder to shoulder with inspirational women in business, at the House of Lords, overlooking The Thames in the sunshine was a real pinch me moment.
I was thrilled to receive the phone call from The Enterprise Vision Awards inviting me to represent Chiltern Relocation at the annual event at a truly iconic venue. Here I joined female founders, leaders, investors, policymakers and fellow women in business for afternoon tea and speeches.
The Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAS) are the UK’s largest and most established awards celebrating female entrepreneurship, leadership, and impact across all business sectors. Founded in 2011 by Coral Horn, the EVAS recognise, connect, and champion women who are building, growing, and leading businesses across the UK. Having the opportunity to network with such incredible ladies was truly a career highlight.
The event was hosted with the support of The Baroness Valentine, Crossbench Peer and former Chief Executive of London First, widely known for championing major business and regeneration initiatives including Crossrail and wider urban renewal.
From Dragons to Biscuits
The keynote speakers at the event were Theo Paphitis (former star of BBC’s Dragons Den) and Harriet Hastings (Biscuiteers founder), who shared honest reflections and valuable insights into business growth, leadership and building lasting brands. This is not the first time I have heard Theo speak as I have been attending his annual #SBS Event for the past nine years, as a Small Business Sunday winner. Theo is an incredible champion, not only of small businesses, but also women in business – he often recounts that 80% of winners to #SBS awards are women – so to hear him speak to a room of inspirational women was a real treat.
The other keynote speaker was Biscuiteers founder Harriet Hastings who founded the company in 2007 after identifying a gap in the gifting market for luxury food. From writing her first book, the Biscuiteers Book of Iced Biscuits, to opening the world’s first icing cafés, Harriet has made her mark in the food and drink sector and has grown Biscuiteers to be a household name in the UK. Aside from Biscuiteers, Harriet is a huge advocate for women in business. Hearing her path to success and the challenges she faced along the way was truly inspiring.
My Journey from Kitchen Table to The House of Lords
Being invited to share such a special day with incredible women has truly been a standout moment of my Chiltern Relocation journey. Twenty-one years ago, I was working for a local estate agent, but I knew I had a lot to offer potential buyers in terms of local information and advice. I also knew that the perfect property for clients may well be on the books of another agent. Feeling conflicted, I had ‘a light bulb moment’ and decided to go it alone and set up Chiltern Relocation from my kitchen table.
Fast forward to 2026 and the property market, the prevalence of property search engines and the role of home finders has changed beyond recognition. Today, the landscape couldn’t be more different. Buyers now have access to vast amounts of information—price history, planning records, EPC ratings, market trends—all at their fingertips. In theory, this should make property finding easier. However, in reality, it’s made it more overwhelming.
Despite technology having a huge impact, meaning greater access for all house hunters, the role is still as vital as ever. The challenge is no longer simply locating properties. It’s filtering the noise, spotting the risks and acting decisively in an ultra-competitive environment.
This is why events like the EVAS are so special—they celebrate women who have had their own light-bulb moments and turned their vision into reality. Sharing this experience with them and listening to their inspiring stories was truly memorable and will stay with me for a long time.
