A Hornchurch sewing studio has been given an award by former Dragons' Den star Theo Paphitis at a small business event.
Theo Paphitis, who was a regular on the BBC show, presented Nichole Goodison, founder of Billet Lane's Elasha Creations Sewing Studio a "Small Business Sunday" award last Friday (February 23).
The weekly award, announced by Mr Paphitis on social media channels X and Instagram every Monday at 8pm, goes to small businesses that pitch the former Dragon with a short description of what they do.
Nichole Goodison, whose business runs adult and child sewing classes, said she was proud to meet Mr Paphitis last Friday, after becoming one of six award winners on December 4 2023.
"Just to be selected from out of that many people that enter and pitch was massive for me" Nichole said today (March 2). "As an entrepreneur the recognition is huge and very encouraging."
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Nichole added that has been difficult to run a small business solo, but thanked Mr Paphitis for promoting the hard work done by creatives such as herself.
The Small Business Sunday 2024 event, where all award winners over the past year can collect their gongs, is hosted annually in February, Nichole said.
Small Business Sunday, established by Mr Paphitis in 2010, has had more than 3,500 winners, including Elasha Creations, now based in Fairkyes Studios, Hornchurch.
The Hornchurch enterprise offers weekly afterschool sewing clubs, a Saturday morning club and other adult workshops.
Nichole, who got into sewing and fashion as an "introverted" child, said watching childrens' progress and development was amazing.
Her business started at home around 2015, after the birth of her youngest child, now 15. Nichole also hired a hall for evening classes until demand grew.
In 2018, Nichole rented a permanent space in Fairkytes to accommodate more students and continues to this day.
Nichole, who said she started the business to give people the opportunity to sew, said she loves her work and being able to inspire people.
"I believe you should be able to create your own individual style," she said. "I love sewing and I’m told I have the patience for teaching it."
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