The WILDE Foundation wins prestigious CLBS Business Expo Award for Innovation and Empowerment

The WILDE Foundation (TWF), the host of the WILDE Hammersmith and Fulham Writers’ Festival, has been named the overall winner of the prestigious CLBS Business Expo Award, an accolade presented by the University of West London to recognise trailblazing achievements in business.

The award was announced at the second CLBS Business Expo, held on October 30, 2024, which showcased the achievements of small businesses, organisations, and charities from across London.

The WILDE Foundation, a London-based charity dedicated to empowering women and girls through creative outlets, launched the Hammersmith and Fulham Writers’ Festival in 2021. The festival was inspired by the absence of a local platform for creative expression in the West London area. It provides an inclusive space to showcase female and indie authors and has quickly become a highlight of the literary calendar, attracting celebrated authors and poets from around the world. This year, participants hailed from as far afield as Cardiff, Nigeria, and the USA.

Reflecting on the journey, Rasheda Malcolm, author and founder of the festival, shared, “Our writing group transitioned online in 2020 due to the Covid-19 lockdown, and what emerged was an outpouring of creativity from women across our community. This festival has become an important outlet for that talent, and receiving the CLBS Business Expo Award is a powerful recognition of our growth and impact.”

The CLBS Business Expo, led by Mohammad Waqar Abbasi, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader at the University of West London, honours organisations that embody innovation, sustainability, inclusiveness, and commercial viability. Abbasi commended TWF, saying, “The WILDE Foundation exemplifies what it means to be a trailblazer in today’s business landscape. Their outstanding commitment to innovation, sustainability, inclusiveness, job creation, and commercial viability sets a new standard. We are incredibly proud to recognise them as our Enterprise of the Year 2024. Congratulations to The WILDE Foundation—here’s to continued success and impactful collaboration!”

This award underscores The WILDE Foundation’s remarkable journey and its ongoing commitment to nurturing creativity and empowering women. The recognition is a significant milestone that paves the way for the festival’s future growth and outreach, as it continues to champion the voices of women and indie authors in and beyond the UK.

For more information about The WILDE Foundation and the Hammersmith and Fulham Writers’ Festival, please visit www.handfwritersfestival.co.uk