DENISE O’LEARY MBE SHARES MARKETING EXPERTISE AT WEST WILTSHIRE BUSINESS EXPO
Award-winning Wiltshire entrepreneur joins expert panel to discuss marketing strategy, AI, business awards and the importance of staying visible
Wiltshire, October 2026 – Award-winning businesswoman, author and marketing specialist Denise O’Leary MBE, Founder and Managing Director of Purpol Marketing, joined fellow marketing experts at the inaugural West Wiltshire Business Expo to discuss how businesses can raise their profile, embrace new technology and make the most of their marketing opportunities.
Held at The Civic in Trowbridge on Thursday 8 October, the event brought together businesses from across Wiltshire for a day of networking, exhibitions and expert-led discussions.
Denise was invited to join the 10am panel discussion, Marketing: Strategy, Search & AI, alongside Chris Aston, Head of Marketing at Wiltshire Farm Foods; Helen Dalton, Head of Technical SEO/GEO at Varn SEO; and Natalie Luckham, Founder of Naturally Social. The discussion was chaired by Megan Witty of Trowbridge Chamber CIC.
The panel covered brand positioning for sustainable growth, staying visible as AI changes the way people search for information, the PR value of winning business awards and using AI to make more effective use of marketing content.
Denise said:
“It was a pleasure to be part of the first West Wiltshire Business Expo and share the panel with such knowledgeable marketing professionals.
“Marketing is constantly evolving and AI is creating some really exciting opportunities, but businesses still need to get the basics right. You need to know who your customers are, what makes you different and why people should choose you.
“There is so much technology available now, but it is how you use it that makes the difference.”
Making the most of business awards
Denise, who has more than 30 years of experience in marketing and business development, shared her expertise on using business awards as part of a wider marketing and PR strategy.
As an international awards judge, professional awards writer and multi-award-winning entrepreneur, Denise knows first-hand the value that awards can bring to businesses of all sizes.
She explained:
“Winning a business award is fantastic, but it shouldn’t stop with collecting a trophy and having your photograph taken.
“An award gives you independent recognition of your achievements and provides a brilliant opportunity to tell your story. You can use that recognition in your PR, on your website, across social media, in tenders and proposals and even when recruiting new staff.
“I always encourage businesses to think about how they can make the most of an award before they even enter. The publicity and credibility it can generate are incredibly valuable.”
Sharing the WINNER approach
Denise’s appearance at the Expo followed the September launch of the updated second edition of her book, WINNER – How to WIN Business Awards, which reached Amazon No.1 bestseller status across seven charts.
The new edition includes updated advice on using AI in the awards process, together with WINNER AI, designed to help businesses approach award entries more effectively.
Denise added:
“AI can be a useful tool for researching, planning and developing content, but you still need the experience and knowledge to know whether what it produces is right.
“The same applies to writing award entries. Judges want genuine achievements, strong evidence and a compelling story. AI can help you work more efficiently, but it can’t invent the results that make an entry award-winning.
“My advice is to use the technology available to you, but never lose sight of what makes your business special.”
Championing Wiltshire businesses
The inaugural West Wiltshire Business Expo was organised by Trowbridge Chamber CIC in partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), with the aim of showcasing local enterprise, encouraging investment and strengthening connections between businesses across the county.
The event featured speakers and exhibitors covering subjects including AI, marketing, sustainability, technology, finance and business growth.
Denise said:
“We have some fantastic businesses here in Wiltshire and it is important that we support each other and celebrate what is being achieved locally.
“Events like this give business owners the chance to make new connections, share ideas and learn from people with different areas of expertise.
“Thank you to Trowbridge Chamber for inviting me to take part, and to everyone who came along to the discussion. It was a great way to start the day and I hope the first West Wiltshire Business Expo will be the start of many more.”
ENDS