DENISE O’LEARY MBE SHARES SECRETS TO WINNING MORE BUSINESS AT THAMES VALLEY EXPO

Award-winning Wiltshire entrepreneur takes to the stage in Reading to share her experience of winning clients, contracts and new business opportunities

Wiltshire, October 2026 – Award-winning businesswoman, author and international speaker Denise O’Leary MBE, Founder and Managing Director of Purpol Marketing, took to the stage as a keynote speaker at the Thames Valley Expo in Reading on Wednesday 14 October 2026.

Held at the Green Park Conference Centre, the event brought together business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals from across the Thames Valley for a day of networking, exhibitions and expert presentations.

Denise delivered a keynote presentation entitled ‘How to Win More Clients, Contracts & Opportunities’, sharing her experience of helping businesses secure new contracts, raise their profile and grow.

With more than 30 years of marketing and business development experience, Denise has helped organisations win contracts worth over £3.6 billion, with Purpol Marketing achieving a 95% bid success rate.

Denise said:

“It was fantastic to be invited to speak at the Thames Valley Expo and share some of the things I have learned from helping businesses win new opportunities.

“Winning business doesn’t happen by accident. You need to understand what your customers are looking for, demonstrate why they should choose you and make sure you are putting your business forward for the right opportunities.

“I really enjoy sharing practical advice that people can take away and use in their own businesses. Sometimes a few small changes to your approach can make a big difference to your success.”

Helping businesses win more opportunities

Denise’s presentation focused on the importance of understanding customer requirements, communicating business strengths and making the most of opportunities to secure new work.

Through Purpol Marketing, Denise supports businesses with marketing strategy, bid writing and business awards, helping them demonstrate their expertise and stand out from their competitors.

She explained:

“One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is assuming that potential customers already understand what makes them different.

“You might be brilliant at what you do, but if you can’t explain that clearly and back it up with evidence, you could be missing out on opportunities.

“When you’re writing a tender or putting together a proposal, you need to make it easy for the person reading it to understand why your business is the right choice.

“It is about answering the question properly, demonstrating your experience and showing the value you can deliver.”

Celebrating business success

Denise is also the author of WINNER – How to WIN Business Awards, which provides practical advice to help businesses identify suitable awards, prepare compelling entries and make the most of the recognition they receive.

The updated second edition was launched in September 2026 and reached Amazon No.1 bestseller status across seven charts.

Denise believes the skills involved in writing successful tenders and award entries have much in common.

She said:

“Whether you’re entering an award or bidding for a contract, you need to tell your story in a way that makes people take notice.

“You have to understand what is being asked, provide the right evidence and demonstrate what makes you stand out.

“Businesses often underestimate just how much they have achieved. Taking the time to look at your successes and gather the evidence can be incredibly valuable, whether you’re trying to win a new customer or gain recognition through an award.”

Sharing knowledge with the business community

The Thames Valley Expo provided an opportunity for businesses to meet, make new connections and learn from speakers with experience across a range of industries.

For Denise, who regularly speaks at business events and conferences, sharing her knowledge and encouraging business owners to recognise their potential is an important part of her work.

Denise added:

“I love meeting other business owners and hearing about what they are doing. There are so many fantastic businesses out there, and events like this are a great opportunity to make connections and learn from each other.

“My message to businesses is to be confident about what you can offer, understand your customers and don’t be afraid to go after new opportunities. “Thank you to the organisers for inviting me to speak and to everyone who came along to my presentatio