‘Multi award winning, outspoken, direct. Passionate, funny, kind. Ambitious, tenacious, determined.’
Starting her own business in 1992, aged 20, Kate chose a dynamic, fast paced industry by chance, which has become a life long passion. She has worked in many sectors of the transport and logistics industry, from a Surrey-based 24-hour haulage operation, through to same day courier, internet fulfilment and logistical software provision. Now CEO of the Diamond Logistics and Technology Group Ltd, which encompasses Diamond Logistics, Despatchlab and The Diamond Network, Kate’s still passionate about her mission to help fellow business owners to build their businesses.
Kate was Chairman of the Despatch Association, committee member and National Courier Association Personality of the Year and one of the founding directors of DA Systems and Webforce Logistics. Kate has also had interests in businesses as wide-ranging as event management and property development.
Kate is now wholly focused on scaling The Diamond Group. diamond is now the UK fastest growing fulfilment and delivery network with sites around the UK providing fulfilment plus delivery by same day courier or overnight domestic and international carrier. Its core purpose is to build businesses (and careers) on one stop logistics – our clients, our network partners and our team.
Her core value is stamped on the business. It’s all about Shared Success©.
From Entrepreneur of the Year, to the first woman to be awarded the Services to Industry Award awarded at the House of Lords by the IoC to awards for Innovation and Diversity at the IoC Awards in 2019, to most Inspirational Leader in 2020 Kate continues to want to change how people think about leadership, innovation and partnerships in logistics.
Kate is a passionate Mum and, now, Nana. She loves nothing better than cooking for friends from her seafront home in Brighton, walking her Dalmatian, Benji and gardening. It’s the new rock and roll….. 😉
She’s published two books – ‘Stop Reading Self Help Books’ and ‘JFDI’. Watch out for her new book series, ‘The Manicured Fist’ – for women in business – and ‘Surfing the Tsunami’ – coping with a fast growth business.
Awards and Recognition
2020
Inspirational Leader of The Year
Talent in Logistics
2019
Award for Innovation and Diversity, IoC
Institute of Directors – October 2019
2018
First woman with Services to Industry Award from the IOC
The House of Lords – February 2018
SME of the year 2017
Thames Valley awards – January 2018
2016
Virgin Fast Track 100
Diamond Logistics has reached number 65 in the top 100 fastest growing companies in the UK
Ruban d’honneur Award for Entrepreneurship
European Business Awards – February 2017
2015
First Women In Business Entrepreneur of the Year
Real Business and CBI – June 2015
National Champion
European Business Awards 2015/16
Toast of Surrey Business Award 2015
Trinity Newspaper Group
Business Woman of the Year UK
Acquisitions International Business Excellence Awards 2015
Shortlisted in the City AM Awards 2015 in the ‘Explosive Growth of the Year’ category
City AM’s Link 100 Companies to Watch 2015
Further Awards History
In 2013 Kate won Entrepreneur of the Year and Diamond was runner up in the Toast of Surrey Awards.
In 2011 she was cited as number 11 in the Twenty Most Influential People in Surrey.
Kate was a finalist in the 2008/2009 Surrey Business Awards for Surrey Business Person of the Year, finalist in the Toast of Surrey Awards in 2010 as Business Personality of the Year, and, in 2012, won Entrepreneur of the Year for Guildford with the Entrepreneurs Circle (winning the national awards for December).
Press and Media
Kate is regularly featured in media publications and has also appeared on BBC Radio 4 – click here to find out more.