WILTSHIRE marketing expert Denise O’Leary, founder of Purpol Marketing, has been awarded an MBE for services to the construction sector in the New Year’s Honours List.

Denise, 50, who lives in Chippenham, has had to keep tight-lipped about the award for several weeks and says it was easy to keep it secret from everyone except her husband.

“I am honoured and humbled to be recognised with the award of an MBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours list – made exceptionally special as it is the Platinum Jubilee year of Her Majesty The Queen.

“When the letter came through I couldn’t believe it, it didn’t seem real. Today I’m so thrilled to be counted among so many wonderful people who have been honoured for their work throughout our society to make our lives better.”

Denise received the honour for the work she has done to demystify the world of construction and marketing. It’s a sector which is heavily male-dominated and where the value of marketing is often underestimated.

As construction specialist, Denise is trusted with confidential company information and company survival can depend on the winning outcome; Denise’s marketing and bid writing skills have saved companies.

She said: “I am so delighted that I can put into words how great construction companies can be, so they can win contracts to secure their futures. With social value and local supply chains now high on the agenda, messaging within bids is so important.”

Since 2014, Denise has worked tirelessly with ambitious and forward-thinking companies to help them embrace intelligent marketing through strategic planning and consistent delivery of ethical and clear marketing messages.

Dan Barfoot, of CMD Recruitment, one of her clients, said: “We have developed a strong working relationship. Denise is really in tune with us, putting into words and images what we actually deliver to our clients.”

Denise has also supported many business owners and directors in the writing and successful submissions of tenders to win work through complex procurement processes.

This has meant construction companies she’s supported have obtained millions of pounds of work on projects funded by central government and other large corporations.

She has a high profile in construction and has been a keynote speaker at the Big 5 Building and Construction Expo in Dubai several times as well as UK Construction Week.

Denise is a hugely-respected international Women in Construction ambassador, speaking at events on why women should consider construction as a career.

“We have worked with Denise on a number of high value project bids and have found her professionalism and industry knowledge invaluable.” said Shaun Tew, of Tew Bros.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you – your bid writing has almost certainly saved our company. You are part of our family.” said Neil Griffiths of WB Griffiths and Sons.

During the pandemic, Denise took the lead nationally in embracing the Kickstart programme launched by the Government.

She was the first business owner in the UK to take on 50 Kickstarters at once to help young people take the first steps in their careers. To date she has supported 166 young people in this way.

“Denise is second to none. Her knowledge is evidently polished and her dedication to others is duly admired,” said Aidan Bayford, Kickstart student from July-December 2021.

As a businesswoman, Denise is well known across the UK and overseas for her work. She’s published a best-selling book “WINNER – How to win Business Awards” published by Panoma Press.

She’s also a mentor for the Government’s Help to Grow programme and is supporting The University of the West of England, The University of Leicester and The University of Derby with their Help to Grow programmes.

Denise has multiple awards including 13 international Stevie Awards for marketing and entrepreneurship from 2021-2019, and her company was voted ‘World’s Favourite Marketing Agency’ in 2020.

Last year she was also named among the Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs by F:Entrepreneur.

Denise added: “I would like to thank all the amazing people I have worked with and my family for their incredible support.

“This honour is in recognition of all the people who have been part of my journey, and I am so emotional and thankful of this amazing accolade.”

Denise was born and brought up in Wiltshire, she’s a former student of Clarendon Academy in Trowbridge where she was Head Girl between 1989 and 1990.

She later attended the University of the West of England in Bristol to obtain a First Class Honours in BA Business Administration and then her Masters degree in Marketing – all while working full time at Wavin in Chippenham.