A teenage Perthshire businesswoman - who is so young she’s still doing school work - is hoping to clean up at a prestigious awards ceremony.
Amelia Milton (13), founder of Blairgowrie-based soap bar company Smelleez, has been shortlisted for Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Federation of Small Businesses Celebrating Small Business Awards.
Amelia makes and supplies scented vegetable-based soap bars and even dog shampoo bars online and to dozens of Perthshire retail outlets.
She began her handmade brand aged just eight in 2018, taking a stall at Blairgowrie Community Market.
And as she has grown up, the home-schooled wizz-kid has expanded her product range and taken the public face of Smelleez into even more places.
There are 12 award categories and five contenders going for the young entrepreneur title at the regional FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards.
Amelia is the only Perthshire name among 68 finalists in the competition covering the Scottish region.
Twelve Scottish winners will be announced on March 8 at a special ceremony at the Grand Central in Glasgow. The winners from all regions then go on to fight it out in a UK final to follow later in the year.
The annual FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards are the UK’s most important awards for the UK’s small businesses and self-employed workers. They celebrate and recognise a sector that makes up over 99 per cent of all private sector businesses.
Amelia recently shared her joy at being in the finals on the Smelleez Facebook page: “I’m normally quiet on social media at the beginning of the year because I’m hard at work devising new and exciting things for the year ahead.
“But I just had to share that I’ve been shortlisted as a finalist in the Young Entrepreneur category of the Federation of Small Businesses - FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards.
“I’m really looking forward to attending the finals in March.”
She told the PA: “I was delighted to find out that I had been short-listed and even more surprised when I discovered that I was the only business in my area to reach the final.
“I’m excited about going to Glasgow next month and I’ll have a fabulous time whatever the outcome!”
The experimental kitchen chemist added: “At the moment I’m busy working on new products so that they’re ready for when I start attending events again in the spring.”
Pauline Weddell, FSB’s Scotland regional chair, said: “During these very challenging times for small businesses, it’s more vital than ever to celebrate the work that they do and the positive contributions they make to their communities.
“From self-employed tradespeople or contractors, to ambitious start-ups, small businesses across the country are making a real difference – delivering services, creating jobs and generating revenues.
“Our awards showcase the very best of small business and give them the recognition they deserve.”
