Cambridge jewellery pioneer Harriet Kelsall named HSBC Retail Businesswoman of the Year

Pioneering Cambridge jewellery designer Harriet Kelsall says she was “amazed and thrilled” to be named HSBC Retail Businesswoman of the Year.

Women from enterprise and business from across the country gathered at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds on December 1 for the grand final of the Forward Ladies Women in Business Awards 2016. The awards are one of the country’s biggest events for women in business.

Ms Kelsall founded her business – Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery – in 1998 and it is now recognised in the UK and across the world as a market leader in bespoke jewellery design.

Her company, which has a studio and shop on Green Street, has more than 20 national and international awards to its name. Ms Kelsall is also a champion for ethics, the environment and education within her sector.

She said: “I’ve been making jewellery since I was four. I was amazed and thrilled to be chosen as Retail Businesswoman of the Year and to be recognised within such a vast network of successful businesswomen. I invented the term bespoke jewellery and I am so honoured to have won.”

Jennifer Crawley, chair of the judges and UK deputy director of small businesses for HSBC, said: “It is great to see so many women being recognised for their hard work and commitment to business. The standard of entries for 2016 has been extremely high, with some really inspirational stories from those women who have taken part.”

The judging panel, made up of successful entrepreneurs and business people, looked at six specific criteria when judging National Women in Business Awards applications: leadership, community impact made by the business, personal integrity and examples of personal resilience, financial performance of the business, sustainability of the business model and innovation within the business.

Ms Kelsall was presented with a bespoke glass trophy, which was hand blown in Yorkshire.

Forward Ladies supports women in their professional lives and champions women in the workplace.