Clare Villar had trained as an illustrator, but hadn’t been able to pursue her craft full-time. Then, all of a sudden, she found herself working in a style that was not only completely new to her, but hadn’t been popular for a hundred years. In 2002, when the colonel of the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry requested a roll of honour, she jumped at the chance, despite having no calligraphy experience. Fast forward and Clare has carved out a niche for herself producing these beautiful works of art that feature the names of every serving member of the regiment painstakingly hand-lettered.

Ade Hassan started  Nubian Skin  when she found there was something she needed that didn’t exist yet in the UK: no one catered to women of colour when it came to ‘nude’ lingerie and hosiery. Since she founded the company, Nubian Skin has been met with all kinds of success, steadily growing throughout the years. Now Ade stands ready to scale her business to the next level.

Growing up, Pravin Isram had always been fascinated by business, but never dreamed he would start one. Years later, driven by a cause that was close to his heart, he started up  Canvas Coffee . To the consumer, it’s simply a great coffee shop, but behind the scenes, Pravin and his team work with people in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. So Pravin went from having no experience in hospitality to running a successful coffee shop that doubles as a social enterprise, making a real positive impact.

Father and son Rob and Luke Ellis hesitated to start their plumbing and heating business because they feared failure. They had no entrepreneurial experience and no clients, but they trusted one another’s capabilities, hard work and desire to create something for their family. Based in the Blackpool area, Rob manages the business while Luke handles the plumbing and heating. The collective strength of the father-and-son team has turned Ellis Plumbing & Heating into a successful enterprise that’s still growing.

Based in Wiltshire and using locally sourced ingredients,  Poppy’s Picnic  is a raw dog food business that prides itself on making dogs healthier. After being fired from numerous corporate jobs, Dylan Watkins felt self-doubt creeping in, but knew that starting his own business could give him the freedom he needed. He had an idea, found confidence in himself, and smashed through the self-doubt, allowing his passion for the business to shine through.

Darjeeling Express is Asma Khan’s central London restaurant where she serves a taste of her home, Kolkata. After bringing women together for supper clubs, Asma eventually realised she had the talent to cook for a career. She had thought only men owned business, but she found the confidence to believe in herself and the women who make up her all-female kitchen. Asma continues to run the show, and she does it all in her own, authentic way.