In December 2025 Pennine Platform was named ‘best cultural promotion publication’ in the Northern Enterprise Awards, and with our approval, this surprise email said, we would be listed as such in SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) News. It was indeed news as I hadn’t known we were in the running. Whom had we ‘beaten’, and on what criteria? Were we even an ‘enterprise’? Before hitting Oxfam for a ballgown I rang the number helpfully given, of a company called AI Global Media, to query the ‘AI’ bit. Were we signing ourselves up to be ‘scraped’? No, a courteous real person explained: it stands for Acquisition International. I was scarcely reassured, but a pat on the back is not to be sniffed at.
Everyone knows the headache of selecting from a shortlist, or a shortlist from a longlist, so that to be shortlisted for something is as good as winning. Moreover, as I understand it, an award is tax-free because you are nominated, whereas prize money is taxable because you enter yourself. In this case, for funds potentially to flow our way, we were invited to part with some. Twelve emails followed dangling a range of packages involving digital logos, a bespoke trophy, a personalised digital logo and varying longueurs of print and online copy reaching a possible 219,000 views. There was a ‘Success Spotlight’ package (high hundreds), a ‘Power Couple’ package (don’t ask), a ‘Digital Boost’ package, and more. A fair field full of packages.
‘Thank you for returning my call just now,’ I replied. ‘It was good to speak in person. Thank you for this information, and the award. It is good to receive any kind of recognition. I am interested to know how the magazine came to your attention, as I know we are doing a great and more-or-less unique job but even the best poetry magazines are not exactly household names. Looking at the testimonials, though, I can’t see any non-profit community enterprises, let alone ones run virtually single-handed. I took up editorship five years ago, gave the magazine a fresh look, raised the profile, trebled the subscribers and by offering constructive feedback attracted higher and higher quality submissions. More and more of them, though – so I don’t feel I could cope with even bigger spreadsheets! I appreciate the interest from AI Global Media; let’s hope it leads to further recognition within the literary publishing arena.’
Pennine Platform 