Since founding Talk to the Press, Natasha has won a number of business awards.

Winner: Women in Business category, Startups Awards.
In November 2009, she won the ‘Women in Business’ category of the Startups Awards. There were over 300 entries, and ten award judges said about Natasha and Talk to the Press: “In a particularly hotly contested category, the judges in the end unanimously voted Natasha Courtenay-Smith the winner. Her innovative business builds on the growing media demand for fascinating stories about real people, and has proved immensely successful, facilitating stories in most mainstream newspapers and magazines as well as online and broadcast media.” The Women in Business category was the only category out of ten in which the judges decision was unaminous.

Winner: Outstanding New Publicity Solution, Global Business Excellence Awards.
In February 2010, Talk to the Press was honoured by the Global Business Excellence Awards for providing a high quality service to our clients. The agency was named “Outstanding New Publicity Solution” and received some words of praise from the chairman of the judging panel, Andrew Areoff. He says: “Talk to the Press provide ordinary people with the skill and know-how to tell their story to the world. Dealing with the media can be a daunting process but Talk to the Press guides their clients through the media maze and holds their hand all the way. Their specialist knowledge, eye for a great story and client focus sets them apart. Not only have the developed a great proposition they also deliver what their clients want and expect in a caring and professional way.”

Winner: Smarta 100
Talk to the Press was chosen by a judging panel including Deborah Meaden and other leading entrepreneurs such as Bebo Founder Michael Birch as a winner of Smarta.com’s inaugural ‘Smarta 100’. The Smarta 100 is the ultimate business accolade, recognizing the UK’s smartest small businesses. Smarta.com has uncovered remarkable companies who have gone the extra mile to differentiate themselves from the market or found clever ways to compete, from their marketing plan to their ethical stance. The result is a fascinating insight into the unique business ideas that are thriving in the current economic climate.

Winner: Management Today’s 35 under 35, 2010
It’s been ten years since the magazine published its first list, which features a roll call of the most inspirational businesswomen under the age of 35 in the UK. From fashion to financial services, the prestigious list includes high-flyers from all kinds of industry who have worked hard to achieve their ambitions, many of them in a tough economic climate. Natasha is one of 16 entrepreneurs on the list. Profiles of all the 35 Women Under 35 appeared in the business section of the Sunday Times newspaper.

Finalist: Women on their Way awards
Natasha Courtenay-Smith, the founder of press and publicity agency Talk to the Press is finalist for the ‘High Growth Award’ at this year’s Women on Their Way awards. The High Growth Award is designed to recognise women whose business sets itself apart from other firms and has grown significantly since launch.

Finalist: First Women Awards
In June 2010, Natasha reached the finals of the Media category in the Lloyds bank First Women Awards. Other contenders in the ‘Media’ category included Elaine Puke, head of drama at BSKYB and Heather Brooke, the journalist whose five year campaign for the disclosure of MP’s expenses lead to parliamentary reform. Natasha says: ‘It’s an absolute honour for a relatively new business like Talk to the Press to have even reached the finals of such an awards. The night was hugely inspiring and brilliant fun.’

Finalist, Best Interactive Business, Mumpreneur Awards
Talk to the Press also beat over 300 businesses to reach the final six in the ‘Best Interactive Business’ category of the Mumpreneur Awards. The Best Interactive Business Award is given to the mum who runs the most deserving hands on business. This award was open to any mumpreneur whose work involves interacting with others, and anything which is hands on or interactive. The winner will provide a service with a smile and work closely with all their clients.

Talk to the Press is also featured in the media category on the website www.verygoodservice.com