WORCESTERSHIRE businesswoman Emma Heathcote-James, founder of organic brand the Little Soap Company, has been shortlisted for entrepreneur of the year in the 2016 Lloyds Bank National Business Awards.

Out of ten finalists, she is one of only two women to reach the awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, November 15, at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London.

Ms Heathcote-James said: "This feels even more of an accolade, living and working rurally, to be both recognized and shortlisted for such a prestigious national award. I am absolutely thrilled."

She founded the Little Soap Company, which is now based in High Street, Broadway, back in 2012, growing the business quickly from selling her hand made soaps at farmers markets, to lining the shelves of the UK’s leading supermarkets. Her aim, from the start, was to make totally pure, organic soap accessible to all in both price and accessibility. Securing contracts with leading supermarkets including Waitrose, Tesco, Boots and Sainsbury she was able to do just that, becoming the first totally organic soap on any of their shelves.

The finalists were chosen from the hundreds of businesses that entered or were nominated across 18 award categories. The finalists will now prepare for live presentations to an expert judging panel who will decide the overall winners.