The Marketing Plot, has been named as the Business, Consulting & Management winner at the 2025 South West StartUp Awards.

Hinton Magazine
9 hours ago
2 min read

Founded two years ago, The Marketing Plot provides fractional CMO support to B2B businesses, free mentoring to female founders, and strategic clarity to companies looking to scale sustainably.

The Bristol-based consultancy has worked with over 30 businesses across the UK and Europe, helping them refine positioning, build marketing momentum, and generate measurable commercial results.

At the helm is Jess Saumarez, a two-time startup founder whose ventures have scaled to acquisition. A graduate of the NatWest Accelerator and an active Entrepreneur in Residence for both SETsquared and NatWest's Back Her Business initiative, Jess has become a recognised figure in Bristol’s innovation ecosystem. Her work is redefining what “good” looks like in the UK startup market, bridging deep marketing expertise with founder empathy and commercial rigour.

Jess Saumarez, founder of The Marketing Plot, said:

“Winning this award is a huge honour and a proud moment for our small team. We set out to give ambitious businesses the strategic marketing support they truly need, without the fluff or inflated agency fees. To have that work recognised at a regional level is incredibly meaningful. It reflects the trust our clients have put in us and the care we bring to every project. Next up: continuing to grow, mentoring more founders, and helping even more B2B teams unlock their marketing potential.”

The UK StartUp Awards were established to highlight the success of start-ups across ten UK nations and regions and to celebrate the achievements of entrepreneurs in all sectors of the economy.

Entrepreneurship in the South West is thriving, fuelled by a mix of creativity, community spirit, and a growing support ecosystem. From the tech clusters of Bristol and Gloucester to the vibrant network of small businesses spread across Cornwall, Somerset, and Devon, the region is home to a diverse and ambitious group of founders. With access to top universities, expanding investment opportunities, and a lifestyle that attracts talent, the South West is fastbecoming one of the UK’s most exciting regions to start and grow a business.

According to Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, creator of the UK StartUp Awards, this surge in start-up ambition reflects a new generation of entrepreneurs who are not only identifying opportunities but are also building innovative, resilient businesses that are shaping the future of the regional economy. He states, “Entrepreneurs across the UK are reshaping the economic landscape and transforming bold ideas into thriving ventures and ambition into lasting impact. That’s why we created the StartUp Awards namely to celebrate those who are building something from nothing and changing their communities in the process. In the South West, that entrepreneurial spirit runs deep and these entrepreneurs are building everything from cutting-edge digital products to sustainable food brands and green energy solutions, often rooted in a strong sense of place and purpose”.

“I’m delighted that The Marketing Plot has won their category at the awards and I’m looking forward to having them join the ‘best of the best’ from the South West competing at the UK final later this year.”

All regional winners in their category will now progress to the UK StartUp Awards final, taking place at Ideas Fest on September 11th (dubbed the “Glastonbury for Entrepreneurs.”) along with the winners from nine other regions.