Dear ,
Cambridge entrepreneur Harriet Kelsall, founder and director of the eponymous bespoke jewellery design company, has been shortlisted amongst just six other UK businesswomen in the Institute of Director's Women Changing the Business World campaign.
This is a considerable honour and achievement for Harriet who is the only director in the jewellery industry to be shortlisted.
More information is provided below and you can access high-res images of Harriet and the Cambridge jewellery studio via this link. http://www.hkjewellery.co.uk/web/page/jewellery-hi-res-images
For more information or to interview Harriet, please contact me on 07540 399 976 or lindsay@lindsayephgravepr.com
Best wishes
Lindsay
28 JANUARY 2014
Cambridge businesswoman is changing the business world
Cambridge, UK- Cambridge entrepreneur Harriet Kelsall, who founded her award-winning bespoke jewellery design company in the late 1990s, has been shortlisted in the Institute of Director's Women Changing the Business World campaign.
Harriet, owner and director of Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery www.hkjewellery.co.uk, whose design studio is in the heart of the city in Green Street, is amongst just six other UK businesswomen to have made the shortlist.
Launched in September 2013 in association with HSBC, the Women Changing the Business World campaign aims to honour the women transforming the business world. Members of the public can vote for the overall winner to be announced in the March issue of Director magazine.
Commenting on this recent achievement, Harriet said: "To have reached the shortlist for this incredible campaign is a real honour and to know that there are only seven women in the list makes me feel very privileged.
"I have always tried not only to grow a successful business, but also to create a business that would make a difference to my employees, my peers and the industry in which l work, and this campaign is all about recognising female entrepreneurs who have done just that."
Carol Bagnald is HSBC regional commercial director for London, campaign sponsor and one of the judges, she said: "Women are starting more businesses than ever before and their financial power is important.
"It's encouraging to see how many high-profile women are now on the business world stage. This isn't about gender diversity but leadership styles. Congratulations to the women leading the way with their entrepreneurial spirit, inspiring others to do the same."
Harriet has played a major part in revitalising the jewellery industry in the UK and has grown her business with her innovative ‘bespoke jewellery for the high street' concept stores here in Cambridge and also in Hertfordshire, winning numerous awards including ‘Boutique Retailer of the Year' at the UK Jewellery Awards 2013 - the so-called ‘Oscars' of the jewellery industry.
Harriet is a passionate believer in proper design, craftsmanship and creativity; she employs graduate designers and takes on apprentices for her workshop championing ‘Made in Britain'.
She was named ‘Everywoman in Retail 2011' for her contribution to the development of women in her industry and was held up as an inspiration to other women seeking to break through the glass ceiling so often present in the UK retail industry. Over 75% of Harriet's employees are women with two-thirds of the management team being women.
Her focus on the provenance of suppliers' gemstones has played no small part in the industry's move towards ethical improvements; she was one of the first 20 jewellers worldwide to launch Fairtrade gold and was the first independent jeweller to be certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council.
To vote for Harriet, emaildirector-ed@iod.comwith the subject line ‘Women Changing the Business World'. Voting closes on 10 February 2014 and the winner will be announced in the March issue of Director magazine.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS
Media contacts
Lindsay Ephgrave
Lindsay Ephgrave PR Ltd
Telephone: 07540 399976
lindsay@lindsayephgravepr.com
About Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery
Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery is the UK's leading bespoke jewellery design company specialising in engagement rings, wedding rings, commitment rings and eternity rings as well as jewellery for other memorable occasions.
Based in Hertfordshire and Cambridge, Harriet Kelsall's team of designers and goldsmiths work closely with clients to create unique and stunning pieces of jewellery to an exceptionally high standard.
Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery is an award-winning bespoke jewellery design company. In 2011, the company was awarded Business Initiative of the Year in the UK Jewellery Awards for the re-design of its Cambridge studio, an initiative that brings proper bespoke jewellery design to the High Street for the first time.
The company was also listed in Professional Jeweller's prestigious Hot 100 list - the who's who of the jewellery industry - and was included in Retail Jeweller's list of the Top 50 Inspiring Independents coming in at number 25 making it the top independent in Cambridge.
And topping off a glittering year of success, Harriet Kelsall was named Woman of the Year at the Specsavers Everywoman in Retail Awards. This coveted award recognises the company's enormous achievements as well as Harriet's vision and passion for innovation and inspiring the younger generation of jewellery designers and goldsmiths.
In 2012, the company was named Small to Medium Business of the Year at the Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards, was a finalist in the UK Jewellery Awards in the Boutique Retailer of the Year category, was included for the second year in a row in Retail Jeweller's list of the Top 50 Inspiring Independents and was named Small Business of the Year in the Cambridge News Business Excellence Awards.
In 2013, the company was awarded Boutique Retailer of the Year in the UK Jewellery Awards, was a finalist in the Retail Week Interiors Awards and was named the fourth most inspiring independent jeweller in the UK by industry magazine Retail Jeweller.
For more information contact Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery on 01462 790565 or enquiries@hkjewellery.co.uk or visitwww.hkjewellery.co.uk