Jewellery designer from Hertfordshire wins HSBC 'Retail Businesswoman of the Year'

Hertfordshire based jewellery designer, Harriet Kelsall, has been awarded HSBC 'Retail Businesswoman of the Year' at the Forward Ladies Women in Business Awards 2016 that took place earlier this month.

Trailblazing and pioneering women from enterprise and business gathered at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds for the grand final to celebrate each other’s achievements in what is one of the country’s biggest ever searches for successful women in business.

Harriet 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, with over 20 national and international awards to its name. As an innovator she has revolutionised bespoke design within the jewellery industry and is a champion for ethics, the environment and education within her sector. Harriet plays a key role in the industry as the Vice-Chairman of the National Association of Jewellers and as a board member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and for the British Hallmarking Council.

Founded in 1999, Forward Ladies supports women in their professional lives and celebrates and champions the role of women in the workplace. Harriet Kelsall was shortlisted in the retail category for the 2016 Forward Ladies National Women in Business Awards reflecting her position as one of the most respected jewellery designers and business trailblazers working in the UK jewellery industry today. Harriet then went on to win the ‘Retail Businesswoman’ award at the London and The South regional finals before her success this month.

Harriet Kelsall and Griselda Togobo

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.

Harriet, who is also a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths said:

“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. Every aspect of the judging criteria is extremely important to Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery but ‘community impact made by the business’ is particularly close to our hearts as for us success is about great customer experience, strong ethics, and responsibility within our team as well as within the communities with which we interact. I think that we need strong female role models in business and as Griselda Togabo said last night, “We will face many defeats but we will never be defeated”. I’m honored to be chosen as a businesswoman role model and to help prove Griselda’s words within the industry as well as for the next generation”.

Harriet was presented with a bespoke glass trophy, hand blown in Yorkshire. 

It is truly fantastic to see local talent being recognised nationally.  Here at Wenta we wish Harriet all the very best for the future and we will be following her journey closely.

For more information on Harriet Kelsall visit: www.hkjewellery.co.uk.