Meet the East Midlands’ Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 2 September 2025
Nine impressive small businesses from across the East Midlands have been included in a line-up of the UK’s 100 most inspiring entrepreneurs for 2025, launched by the Small Business Saturday campaign.
As the annual campaign kicks off its call to celebrate and support the nation’s favourite businesses, a theatre-school in Lincolnshire, STEM skills education business in Derby and a makers studio in Spalding are among firms from across the country featured in this year’s ‘Small Biz 100’ line-up of the UK’s most innovative and admired small businesses.
Each business will be showcased as part of a 100-day countdown to Small Business Saturday on 6 December. The campaign aims to celebrate and uplift independent firms by encouraging the public to support and spend with small businesses.
After a national search, this year’s SmallBiz100 line-up includes an array of small firms from across the UK, with small businesses featured from across the East Midlands also including:
Bridal Reloved Lincolnshire - founded by Alison Riley this bridal studio in Caistor offers a curated collection of pre-loved, ex-sample, and sustainable wedding dresses at affordable prices.
DOGraze - based in Derby, DOGraze is the UK’s first dog graze box and ‘barkuterie’ board business, founded by Francesca Pearson, offering nutritious, allergy-friendly treats.
Lincolnshire Makers - owned by Jodie Mason and based in Spalding, Lincolnshire Makers is a vibrant collective supporting local makers and small businesses through curated markets, online showcases, and collaborative events.
Medi8 Therapy - based in Northamptonshire and founded by Stu Thomas, Medi8 Therapy offers practical, compassionate relationship coaching, therapy and marriage guidance.
Melody Woman Music - based in Towcester and founded by pianist-vocalist Kelly Israel, Melody Woman Music aims to nurture the strengths of neurodivergent people through live music.
Richer Solutions - based in Corby and founded by Richard Liverman, this consultancy supports businesses to grow authentically, offering mentoring clients “therapy for business.”
Sheer Edge - based in Market Harborough and led by Managing Director Jo Ferreday, this family-run agency offers event support and venue sourcing with a personal, creative approach across corporate, education, charity, and public sectors.
STEM Venturi - founded by Holly Davies in Derby, this social enterprise delivers technology and code education sessions, aiming to close the STEM skills gap across the Midlands.
Wildcats Theatre School - founded by Caz Dolby, this Lincolnshire-based theatre school inspires confidence and creativity in young people through inclusive performing arts classes and productions.
Despite signs small business confidence is returning, the UK’s 5.45 million small firms continue to face an array of economic challenges. Campaigners say public support will be vital for small businesses heading into the final critical peak period of the year and essential to powering much-needed economic growth.
“Small businesses are the nation’s favourite businesses – bringing immeasurable value to our local communities and powering the wider economy,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday UK.
“From family-run cafés and local restaurants, to independent makers, services and traders, this year’s SmallBiz100 represents some of the UK’s most-loved small businesses. It is exciting to kick off this year’s campaign with so many fantastic businesses from across the East Midlands featured. With small firms still facing lots of challenges, public support makes all the difference as independent firms enter their most critical quarter of the year.”
Small Business Saturday is a grassroots non-commercial campaign that was originally founded by American Express in the U.S. in 2010, and the brand remains the campaign’s principal supporter in the UK.
Dan Edelman, General Manager, UK Merchant Services at American Express, said:
“Through our long-standing support of Small Business Saturday, American Express is proud to champion the nation’s small businesses. Congratulations to this year’s SmallBiz100, which once again showcases the incredible vibrancy and innovation of small firms and the valuable contribution they make to local communities.”
Optimism among the UK’s small and medium-sized businesses has grown for a third consecutive year, according to American Express’ ‘SME Barometer’ research conducted in partnership with Small Business Saturday, which surveyed decision makers at 1,000 UK small and medium sized businesses. Almost seven in 10 (69%) say they are confident about the future of their company — rising from 67% in 2023 and 65% in 2022. There are also encouraging signs when looking ahead to the remainder of the year; almost three-fifths of respondents (57%) believe sales will be better this year than in Q4 2024.
Small Business Saturday is the UK’s most successful small business campaign. Over the decade it has been running in the UK it has engaged millions of people and seen billions of pounds spent with small businesses across the UK on Small Business Saturday, with an impact that lasts all year round.
“I am so proud to be selected amongst so many inspiring businesses for this year’s SmallBiz100,” said Jodie Mason, Owner of Lincolnshire Makers.
“Supporting local talent and creativity is at the heart of everything we do, so it feels really special to be recognised by the Small Business Saturday campaign which shares that same ethos of championing small businesses and celebrating the big impact they make in their communities."
On Small Business Saturday, customers across the UK go out and support all types of small businesses, from independent shops and restaurants, to small service and b2b businesses like accountants and plumbers. Many small businesses take an active role in promoting the day by hosting events and offering promotions.
Last year, the campaign saw support from the Prime Minister, the Mayor of London, as well as the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Over 90% of local councils also supported the campaign, which trended across social media on the day.
To learn more Small Business Saturday’s SmallBiz100 visit https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/
