It’s always a bit surreal receiving an award for work done in a country you love, especially when you’re accepting it from 18,000 kilometers away. Recently, Matt Nicholson, Director of Nicholson + Co, was honored with NPO Consultancy of the Year at the 2024 Greater London Enterprise Awards, recognising his work with non-profits in the UK and Ireland.

Before COVID hit, Matt was consulting for non-profit organisations across the wider UK, among other countries, helping them navigate their unique challenges. But when the pandemic brought everything to a standstill, many of those non-profits could no longer afford help. That’s when Matt made a decision that would define the year ahead: “If they can’t pay, we’ll do it anyway. Whether we lose the business or not, at least we’ll know we did what mattered.”

For a whole year, Matt either funded the work with our contractors out of his own pocket or did the work himself for free. He made sure the non-profits in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK had the support they needed, even when resources were stretched thin. It wasn’t easy, but it was the right thing to do.

Fast forward to today, and it’s great to still be here, standing strong. Being recognised with the NPO Consultancy of the Year award feels like a nod to that hard work, a reminder that doing the right thing matters—even when times are tough.

It’s been a journey, and we’re grateful for it.