Neom Organics entrepreneur on shortlist to be woman of the future

Now, the Harrogate-based entrepreneur has been shortlisted for this year’s Women of the Future Awards. She is in the running for the Entrepreneurial Women of the Future Award after launching Neom Organics in 2005.

She previously worked as a journalist for magazines including InStyle and Glamour and trained as an aromatherapist.

Neom currently has distribution in 15 countries – lately venturing to Hong Kong and Australia and is now stocked in around 150 spas and stores in the UK – most recently being taken on board by 22 John Lewis stores.

Now in its seventh year of trading, annual turnover has exceeded over £2m and it employs 18 staff.

Others on the shortlist this year include London-based, Laura Trott, special adviser on women to Prime Minister David Cameron, who was appointed to the role at the beginning of this year.

Dessislava Bell has also made the list. She quit her high-flying City career to set up London-based lifestyle retailer Zaggora. In just over a year, the business is now one of the fastest-growing e-retailers in the UK, selling more than 500,000 products and having created 90 jobs worldwide.

The Women of the Future Awards, founded by Pinky Lilani with Caspian Media in 2006, and supported by Shell, aim to unearth the next generation of high-flying women aged 35 and under who are excelling in business, the arts, science, technology and the professions. Now in their seventh year, and with Cherie Blair as patron, the awards have recognised women including Rolls-Royce engineer Caroline Mohamed, film-maker Dawn Porter and entrepreneurial transport planner Elspeth Finch.

Mrs Lilani said: “Britain is home to a wealth of inspirational young women who are breaking boundaries in their industries.

“We must champion their innovation and success so we can create and showcase positive role models for future generations of aspiring women.

“This year’s candidates are smashing through barriers into traditionally male-dominated fields such as engineering, construction and sports journalism.”

The award winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on November 20.