From Nomination to Celebration: Our Journey to Winning an EVAS Award
When the email first landed in my inbox, I had to read it twice.
“Congratulations, we are delighted to inform you that you have been nominated for the 2025 Enterprise Vision Awards!”
Someone, somewhere, had taken the time to put my name forward for the UK’s largest celebration of women in business. Not only that, but the nomination came with words that stopped me in my tracks:
“Ali Colley embodies resilience and compassion. After losing her daughter, Hope, to a brain tumour, she founded Hope’s Therapy Dogs. Her innovative programme uses therapy dogs to provide vital emotional and mental health support for pupils in schools. Ali’s tireless dedication has made a lasting impact on countless lives – we love the work Ali and the team – humans and pooches – are doing.”
I sat in silence for a while, tears in my eyes, thinking of Hope and how her legacy continues to shine through the work we do every day.
The Journey Begins
Accepting the nomination meant stepping into a world I could never have imagined. The Enterprise Vision Awards — or EVAS — are so much more than a competition. They are a community. Spearheaded by the incredible Coral Horn and powered by the unstoppable Lizzie Beckford and their brilliant team, EVAS is an ecosystem of support, encouragement, and recognition for women doing extraordinary things in every sector.
From the moment I said “yes,” the journey unfolded: invitations to Parliament, masterclasses with expert judges, graphics to share, and an entire network of women championing one another.
A Trip to the House of Commons
One surreal highlight was walking through the Cromwell Green Entrance at Westminster to attend the EVAS reception at the House of Commons. Inside the Churchill Room, surrounded by extraordinary women leaders, I felt both humbled and proud. What struck me most wasn’t the grandeur of Parliament, but the warmth of the welcome. The EVAS team made every single finalist feel like they belonged there.
Preparing for the Interview
Next came the interview process — complete with a finalist masterclass and even a tech-check to make sure everything ran smoothly. It was so clear how much care the EVAS team put into helping us succeed. Facing the judges was daunting, but they were incredible: curious, encouraging, and deeply invested in our stories. Sharing Hope’s journey, and how therapy dogs now change lives across schools, NHS teams, and workplaces, reminded me of why I started this mission.
The Big Night
And then came the night itself.
The venue was breathtaking — pink galore, glittering lights, and a room alive with energy. It wasn’t just an awards ceremony, it was the biggest celebration of women in business I’ve ever seen. Every detail had been thought through, from the staging to the inclusivity of the evening. It felt safe, supportive, and uplifting — a community bound together by kindness as much as ambition.
Walking into that room, I was overwhelmed by the support from fellow finalists, the EVAS team, and strangers who quickly became friends. Meeting so many wonderful women, hearing their stories, and realising I was part of something bigger than myself was unforgettable.
And then… our name was called.
Hope’s Therapy Dogs won the Health & Wellbeing Award.
It was a moment I’ll never forget — standing on stage, thinking of Hope, our therapy dogs, our team, the schools, the children, and every single person who has walked with us on this journey.
Gratitude
To Coral Horn and Lizzie Beckford, to the EVAS team, to the incredible judges, and to every finalist who cheered me on: thank you. You created something so much bigger than an awards night. You created an experience that celebrated not just businesses, but people, stories, and the heart behind them.
Winning this award is not the end of a journey, but the start of a new chapter. And as always, it belongs not just to me, but to Hope, to our dogs, to our team, and to every child whose life has been touched by this work.