For two island businesses winning at last year’s Media Isle of Man Award for Excellence was about more than just taking home a trophy.

For Simply Sleep and Isle of Man Salt Co, the recognition offered a chance to reflect on how far their businesses had come and perhaps more importantly, gave them the confidence to keep moving forward.

Both have continued to grow since their successes at the 2025 awards, with new opportunities, plans and ambitions on the horizon.

For children’s sleep consultants Simply Sleep, winning Excellence in Customer Service was an unexpected moment of recognition for a business which has spent years trying to raise awareness of the importance of sleep.

Founded in 2021, the business was created with an ambition that went beyond helping tired parents get a better night's sleep.

Co-founder Rebekah Dalrymple said: ‘From the beginning, we have wanted to get people to recognise sleep as a fundamental part of good physical and mental health.’

Simply Sleep had previously entered the Health and Wellbeing category, but felt it was still trying to convince people that sleep deserved a place in that conversation.

‘In some ways, I think sleep is at a similar point to where the menopause was 10 years ago – something hugely important, but not necessarily something that was being talked about or prioritised enough.’

The business then decided to take a different approach and enter the Excellence in Customer Service category.

Rather than Simply Sleep telling the judges about the impact of its work, its customers did the talking.

Testimonials and success stories from families demonstrated the difference better sleep had made to their lives, from improved physical and mental wellbeing to having more quality time together and a better work-life balance.

Putting the entry together proved valuable in itself.

Rebekah continued: ‘It made us stop and look at what we had achieved since starting the business and, even before we found out we'd won, we felt incredibly proud of the difference we had made.’

She believes winning the award has given herself and co-founder Emma Riley a greater confidence that the business is headed in the right direction.

For Isle of Man Salt Co owner Helen Crosbie, winning the Local Food and Drink Award, sponsored by Okell's Inns, was similarly a moment of recognition for years of work building the brand.

She said: ‘I’m five years into building the Salt Co brand now, so it felt like a real acknowledgement of how far the business has come.’

The award, which recognised the company's sustainable production and collaboration with the local food sector, also gave Helen the confidence to take the next steps.

‘When you’re running a small business you’re often just getting on with things and wondering whether you’re making the right decisions, so having that recognition from the local community and the cheers on the night was super encouraging.’

The past year has been a busy one for the Salt Co, with the business continuing to grow and build relationships both on and off the island.

Entries for this year’s Awards for Excellence are open now, closing at midday on Wednesday, September 9.

You can enter through this link: https://afe.im/enter/